一段典型的对话。
以下对话来自When I Say No, I Feel Guilty:
SAM: When the dust settled down, the economy cut-back program was decided upon. The net result is that our department is required to show a 15 per cent increase in workload for the next three to sis months without an increase in people or budget.
HARRY: That's a chuckleheaded idea. Christ! We're overloaded now and just making it by the skin of our teeth. Did you tell them that?
SAM: (Smiling) I didn't tell them that they were chuckleheads, but I did tell them that I thought it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.
HARRY: What did they say?
SAM: Same thing I'm telling you. There will be an increase in workload.
HARRY: Same, I don't know about the others, but I'm just about snowed under now. I can't take a 15 per cent increase in workload. I don't work think I can take any, let alone 15 per cent.
SAM: I agree with you, Harry. It probably won't work and you and the rest of the people with increases may have trouble, but nevertheless we still have an increase in workload. [FOGGING and BROKEN RECORD]
HARRY: That's a hell of a note. Did you tell them that it won't work in our department?
SAM: I agree. It is a hell of a note. They didn't listen to my warnings. I told them pretty much what you're telling me. Only more diplomatically. [FOGGING]
HARRY: If you were less diplomatic and laid it right on the table, maybe they would have listened more to what you told them.
SAM: Perhaps. [FOGGING]
HARRY: Perhaps my ass. If you had laid it on strong they wouldn't be shoving 15 per cent down our throats. They don't know how overloaded we are already.
SAM: You are probably right, but we are still going to have to increase the caseload. [FOGGING and BROKEN RECORD]
HARRY: But I'm having a hell of a time getting everything done now. You know that!
SAM: That's true, Harry, so I want you to let me know right away whenever things get out of hand. After the first month I want you and everybody else to write a memo to me about their specific problems so I have some ammunition if I have to go back upstairs to let them know what is happening. [FOGGING and WORKABLE COMPROMISE]
HARRY: Well, I don't think I can take on a 15 per cent increase.
SAM: You're probably right, so we will start small at first and see how things go. You have sixty cases on your books now. Pick up four more out of the new cases in the next two weeks. [FOGGING and WORKABLE COMPROMISE]
HARRY: Sam! Four new cases will take at least eight hours to prepare and write up to start with. I can't do them without working overtime.
SAM: You may be right. If you find you can't spare any time from the old cases to work up the new ones and have to work late, just keep tab of your time and I'll set i up as comp time on our own schedule. [FOGGING and WORKABLE COMPROMISE]
HARRY: Well, I sure as hell don't like it.
SAM: I agree, Harry. I don't blame you for getting upset. But the decision's out of our hands, so let's see how things work out. Okay? [FOGGING and WORKABLE COMPROMISE]
HARRY: We'll see.
SAM: Okay?
HARRY: Okay.
最好提前想出一个实在不行的情况下最后最后可以妥协的方案。但是要记住，是WORKABLE COMPROMISE，不是 COMPROMISE。
