如何优雅的用英文催促工作进度？
30 个回答
“催”老外干活绝对是一门学问，在外企大家一定最烦发这种邮件。
语气严厉了，惹人反感；太温柔，又无法“立竿见影”。今天我就拿出压箱底的2大原则 + 5大招式，让你分分钟学会如何优雅地用英文催老外干活：
首先，不管这件事有多“十万火急”，以下两大原则要谨记于心：
Rule No. 1: Ask Nicely.
再急也不能失了风度。
职场中，“缺乏同理心”(lack of empathy) 是最不可取的。对方可能真是不小心忘记，或是迫于内部压力而不得不暂且搁置。这时如果你劈头盖脸就催东西，只会引起对方的反感，反倒降低了被优先处理的几率。
Rule No. 2: Refresh Their Memories.
一定要提供前情回顾。
这尤其适用于对方日理万机的情况，如果你的事又的确并非十万火急，那人家多半是记不清细节的。这时候，如果你贴心地为他/她recap前情，既给对方省时间，又给自己博好感，何乐而不为？
记住了两大原则，我们再仔细聊聊五大招式：
第一招：装傻充楞
假装自己需要被提醒，实际是在大喊对方：该干活儿了！这招语气最为和缓，比较适用于第一次催促。举几个栗子：
- I was just wondering if you had placed the PO for the project?
- Could you kindly remind me if the payment has been processed?
- Could you please let me know if the confirmation will arrive by Mar. 10th?
第二招：善意提醒
这一招想必大家司空见惯了，但“善意”如何体现，还是有讲究的。我就曾经收过一封从标题到正文都透露着hostile sentiment的邮件，贴出来给大家品品：
- 标题：Reminder: Reply ASAP.
- 正文：J, Please confirm ASAP.
你品，你细品。
没头没尾、语法不通，全文毫无“善意”可言。不要以为加了“please”就礼貌了，英文中这样用“please”，还和“ASAP”连在一起，是纯命令式语气，显得非常不友好。
正确示范：
- Here’s a kind reminder: Could you please, by any chance, confirm the order at your earliest convenience?
- Just wanted to kindly remind you that we are still waiting for your approval. Could you kindly let us know your feedback as soon as you can?
第三招：预支感恩
相信看了前两招，大家已经很熟悉诸如“kindly”，“could you please”之类的用词了。那么在此基础上，如果我们想更进一步，可以考虑“预支”一点感激之情：
- I’d really appreciate it if you could send me your part by COB on Thursday. This way I will have a few hours to review the complete proposal.
- Your prompt reply is much appreciated! / Thank you in advance!
第四招：主动协助
这一招更进了一步，不仅提醒了对方，还主动提出帮助。如此有诚意的邮件基本会有回音，因为这给对方的感觉是：人家已经这么帮忙了，我好歹回一下吧？
我们来看几个例句：
- I understand that the registration process is quite lengthy. So, if I can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.
- Is there anything else that I can do to help expedite the shipping process?
- I’m just wondering if everything is OK? Please feel free to contact me should you need any assistance.
第五招：适当威胁
这当然不是要你撸起袖子吵架，而是摆事实、讲道理，给对方列出实实在在的后果，提醒对方再不推进，只能后果自负~
- Could you please let me know if the payment could be made by Mar. 10th? If not, it will leave us no choice but to terminate our partnership.
- Please kindly help expedite the internal process, or we won't be able to launch the products on time.
- Please kindly get back to us no later than Mar. 10th, otherwise we will have to cancel the entire project.
当然最后这一种，语气已经不那么友好了，建议只在实在没招且有强大后盾（老板能撑腰，律师能打赢）的情况下才用，否则容易翻车哦！
P.S.: 评论区有很多知友提到了“Could you please”显得不礼貌，甚至很粗鲁。我个人的观点是，在“催促”类邮件中，适当的“不礼貌”是有必要的，尤其涉及到合同未签、款项逾期未付等比较严重的后果时，有时候语气强硬是一种策略。当然，“Could you please”的确是一个雷区比较多的表达，建议如果不是有十足的把握，请慎用。为此我特意写了一篇文章深扒，也欢迎大家前往讨论：
英语日常交流中有哪些是非母语人士不容易意识到的不太礼貌的表达方式？
对邮件礼仪感兴趣的朋友还可以看我的另一个回答：
最后，欢迎关注我的微信公众号“密斯詹”（微信ID：missjzhan）获取更多英语知识~
在不同情况下，催客户进度有一些英文邮件的行话。
如果是没有收到客户的回复
礼貌询问肯定不会出错：Last week I sent through the XXX. I hadn’t heard back from you since and so I just wanted to check in if you have any questions?
但如果老是不回复，那就直接激进一点：
Just check in, have you received the XXX that I sent through last week? Feel free to let me know if you have any questions?
问客户追资料
一个矜持有礼貌的询问如下：
In order to get your project started, I need the following documents/information from you. Can you please send them to me at your earliest convenience?
先表态自己对开始新项目很开心，潜台词是希望你也一样，既然项目已经开始，所以就资料就快点到位吧：
I’m keen to get started on your project. I want to make sure that the project can be delivered in time for your deadline, but at the moment, we’re stalled. Can you please send me the requested documents as soon as possible?
官方版本可能会比较生硬:
please provide XXX by XXX （ASAP)
可以提示一下，我已经发过邮件给你了，快去看看/做准备，但同时也贴心地表示，有问题我会帮你一起解决哒:
Just wondering if you have a chance to read my email below. Just a gentle reminder that if you could provide XXX by XXX, otherwise, your project will be delay. But no worries, I will rebook our team’s slot for you if needed.
当客户逾期未付款（客户经理追钱用的）：
话多也很官方哈：
This is a gentle reminder that your invoice is overdue for xx days. I’d appreciate if you could look over the invoice and make the payment at your earliest convenience. I have attached the invoice here again for your record. Please let me know if you have any questions.
如果是说了几次还没回复，耐心即将耗尽：
I’m just following-up on unpaid invoices and noticed that you have yet to make payment on your invoice. Given that invoice is now xx days overdue, you’ll need to make payment within the next X days if you wish to avoid the overdue payment fee. Please reach out if you have any questions on this payment. Otherwise, please organize for settlement of this invoice immediately.
像一个无情的AI机器人:
your invoice is overdue by XXX, please help to proceed.
一个有人情味且话多的客户经理哈哈哈哈:
Heard from our accouting team that your invoice is overdue for XXX, would you please kindly help to check what’s the payment status? Let me know if you need something else.
给客户台阶下，他可能已看了或者就是真的在拖，但你就当他是无意的。这种说法不会显得太凶，毕竟照顾了对方的面子，会有人很nice的感觉（即使你是装的，但who care）：
I understand that you have been busy so I’m not sure if you have seen the invoice that is sent out recently. I have attached the invoice in this email for your reference. Please let me know if you have any questions or require further clarification.
下面这种就是属于“我是站在你这边的”版本，潜台词 我只是传声筒，因为你和客户（真正要付钱的人）关系很好所以托你跟对方说一声。同时如果真的有什么问题，我也可以为对方提供：
“I'm just a messenger”, I was advised by the finance team with regards to an overdue invoice. Please kindly advise the payment status for this and let me know if there’s anything I can assist you with. （这个牵扯到第三人，比较适用于项目人多，关系复杂的情况）
新项目启动时
比较传统的说法是：Kickoff meeting of XXX
轻松一点的说法是: Hi, XX. Let’s get your XXX project started!
关于自动回复:
官方说法: I’m out of office from XXX to XXX, if not urgent, I will reply your email when I’m back on XXX
如果你正在休假，或是和客户比较熟，也可以这么说：
Im on XXX holiday. I will be back on XXX
If you have anything urgent, please reach me via my phone: XXX or WeChat me. (my wechat ID: XXX)
Thanks a lot!
XXX
最后再给一个比较通用的对话，适用于让对方尽快做选择的各种场景，最后一句会让对方感觉自己很重要：
Please kindly advise how you would like to proceed at your earliest convenience. Your feedback is Important to us.