现在，许多年轻的职场精英们每天都在处理大量的商务信函，而其中绝大部分的信函都是要用英文来书写的。面对英文的商务写作，有相当一部分的“白领”们不是不知就里的随意“发挥”，就是“张冠李戴”的进行“Chinglish”式的创作，而最后的结果往往是外籍同事和外商在读完此类信函之后感到莫名其妙，而老板则更是“大发雷霆”。鉴于这种情况，对于那些在职场打拼的朋友们来说，许多升职加薪的机会就此错过。更为严重的是使用不正规的英语对商业事务“坏消息”进行沟通的时候，不但不会“息事宁人”，反而会是“火上浇油”，起到相反的效果。笔者走访了CBD和金融界商圈的多家英语培训机构，就此类问题各家机构都给出了各自专业的解答。其中，西岸国际语言中心的教学总监李晗表示，处理商务英语写作中传递“坏消息”应该注意以下四步：
1. Select an opening statement that is neutral, relevant, supportive, interesting, and short.
第一步就是要“以一个中立的，与主题有关的，具有支持意味以及简短的陈述来开篇”。这样做的好处就是能够让读者对“坏消息”有心理准备，同时对“坏消息”本身的客观性和公正性不产生质疑。例如：“We both recognize the promotional campaigns that often accompany big sales such as yours.”
2. To justify your decision: State reasons in positive language, avoid relying on “company policy”：instead, explain the reason behind the policy.
第二步就是“让你的决定看上去合理化：用正面积极的语言来解释决定的原因，避免仅仅依靠‘公司政策’这类的官方语言，相反的，要解释决定背后的原因。”例如：“A survey of our dealers three years ago indicated that they felt it resulted traffic and space problems; they were also concerned about legal liabilities as well.”
3. Give the bad news: present the bad news as a logical outcome of the reasons given; do not apologize！
第三步就是“给出坏消息：将坏消息作为一种符合逻辑，有理由的结果给出，千万不要道歉！”例如：“In response to these dealers concerns, we eliminated these activities. Doing so has enabled us to begin featuring a two-page spread in each major Sunday newspaper, including your local paper.”
4. Close on a positive note: make your closing original, friendly, off the topic of the bad news, and positive; avoid anticipating problems, apologizing, inviting needless communication, repeating a cliché, revealing doubt, or sounding selfish.
第四步就是“以积极的基调结束交流：要让你的结束语不老套，友善，与坏消息无关联，同时要积极正面，避免去谈及未来有可能连带的问题，避免道歉和进一步的交流联络，避免让对方感到你很自私”。例如:“Best wishes for success with your tenth-anniversary sale. We have certainly enjoyed our relationship with you and look forward to continuing to serve your needs in the future.”
笔者认为以上的四个步骤是在商务英文传递“坏消息”方面必不可少的，希望能够对朋友们的工作带来帮助。
