问题

如何优雅的用英文催促工作进度?

回答
Sure, I can help you with that! Here's a guide on how to gracefully nudge your colleagues forward with their work in English, with plenty of detail and aimed at sounding natural and human.



The Art of the Gentle Nudge: How to Inquire About Progress Without Sounding Like a Taskmaster

We've all been there. A project is inching along, deadlines are looming, and you need to get a clearer picture of where things stand. The challenge? You want to get an update without making anyone feel scrutinized, pressured, or like you don't trust them to do their job. It’s a delicate dance, but with the right approach, you can foster collaboration and keep things moving smoothly.

The key is to frame your inquiry as a way to support and align, rather than simply to check up. Think of it as a collaborative checkin, a way to ensure everyone is on the same page and has the resources they need.

Let’s break down some effective strategies and phrases, moving from subtle reminders to more direct but still polite prompts.

1. The "Checking In for Alignment" Approach (Subtle & Collaborative)

This is your goto for early nudges or when you want to maintain a very collaborative, lowpressure atmosphere. The focus here is on shared understanding and ensuring you’re both tracking the same trajectory.

The Mindset: "I just want to touch base and see how things are shaping up from your perspective. My goal is to make sure we're all aligned and ready for the next steps."
When to Use It: When the deadline isn't immediately pressing but you want to get a sense of progress, or when you're working on a project with multiple dependencies and want to ensure smooth handoffs.
Phrases to Use:
"Hi [Colleague's Name], just wanted to touch base on the [Project/Task Name] and see how it’s progressing on your end. No pressure at all, just looking to get a general sense of where things are at."
"Hope you’re having a good week! I was wondering if you’ve had a chance to make some headway on the [Specific Part of the Project]. I’m keen to ensure we’re aligned as we move forward."
"Hey [Colleague's Name], I'm planning out the next phase of [Project Name], and I wanted to sync up briefly about the status of [Their Task]. Anything I should be aware of, or any support you might need?"
"Good morning/afternoon! Just a quick note to see if you have any early thoughts or updates on [Task]. I'm happy to brainstorm if you've hit any roadblocks, or just want to chat through it."

Why these work: Words like "touch base," "sync up," and "aligned" create a sense of partnership. Offering to brainstorm or provide support signals that you're there to help, not just to police.

2. The "Looking Ahead and Planning" Approach (Proactive & ForwardLooking)

This method positions your inquiry as part of a broader planning effort. You're not just asking "what have you done?", but "how does this fit into our future plans?"

The Mindset: "I'm trying to map out our upcoming activities and ensure we have a clear path forward. Understanding your current progress helps me plan more effectively."
When to Use It: When you need to integrate their progress into your own work, or when there are upcoming meetings or milestones that require their contribution.
Phrases to Use:
"Hi [Colleague's Name], as we’re heading into next week, I’m starting to map out our priorities. Could you give me a brief update on where you're at with [Task]? It will help me plan accordingly."
"Hey [Colleague's Name], I'm preparing for our team meeting on [Day], and I wanted to get a sense of everyone's progress on [Project]. Specifically, if you have any updates on [Their Task] that you'd be comfortable sharing for our discussion?"
"Good morning! I’m working on compiling a status report for [Manager/Client]. Would you mind sharing a quick update on [Task] so I can ensure our reporting is accurate and uptodate?"
"Hi [Colleague's Name], I was thinking about the upcoming [Milestone/Deadline]. Do you foresee any challenges with completing [Their Task] by then, or are things on track? Knowing your current progress helps me manage my own timelines."

Why these work: Framing it around "planning," "priorities," and "reporting" makes it about the larger project goals and team efficiency, rather than an individual performance check.

3. The "Gentle Reminder with a Helpful Offer" Approach (Slightly More Direct, Still Supportive)

If the subtle approaches haven't yielded the clarity you need, you can become a bit more direct, but always wrap it in an offer of assistance.

The Mindset: "I need to know where we stand to ensure we meet our commitments. I'm here to help unblock anything that might be slowing things down."
When to Use It: When a deadline is approaching, or you've noticed a lack of updates over a period of time.
Phrases to Use:
"Hi [Colleague's Name], following up on our [Project/Task]. I wanted to see if you’ve had a chance to advance on [Specific Aspect]. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help clear any hurdles or expedite things on your end."
"Hey [Colleague's Name], just checking in again on the [Task]. We're getting closer to the [Deadline/Milestone], and I want to make sure we're on track. Are there any blockers or anything you need from me to get this moving?"
"Good afternoon! I’m circling back regarding [Task]. Could you share a brief update on your progress? If anything is preventing you from moving forward, please don’t hesitate to flag it, so we can address it together."
"Hi [Colleague's Name], I know you’ve been busy with [mention their other known tasks if applicable], but I was wondering about the status of [Their Task]? I’m happy to jump on a quick call to troubleshoot or provide a second pair of eyes if that would be helpful."

Why these work: Phrases like "advance on," "help clear any hurdles," "get this moving," and "address it together" are actionoriented and collaborative. Offering to "troubleshoot" or provide "a second pair of eyes" shows you're invested in their success and the project's success.

Important Considerations for Graceful FollowUps:

Timing is Everything: Avoid asking immediately after you’ve assigned a task or after they’ve just provided an update. Give them reasonable time. Consider the typical pace of the task and your colleague.
Know Your Audience: Some colleagues respond better to very direct communication, while others appreciate a softer touch. Tailor your approach.
Be Specific: Instead of "How’s the project going?", ask "How’s the progress on the Q3 report draft?" or "Have you finalized the user interface mockups for feature X?"
Offer Concrete Help: Instead of a generic "Let me know if you need anything," try "Can I help with the data analysis for that section?" or "Would you like me to review the first draft of the proposal?"
Manage Your Own Expectations: Sometimes people are genuinely stuck or overwhelmed. Your inquiry might be the catalyst they need to ask for help.
Use the Right Channel: A quick Slack message might be fine for a subtle nudge, while a more detailed followup might be better suited for an email, or even a brief inperson chat or video call.
Keep Your Tone Positive and Supportive: Your email or message should convey a sense of collaboration and shared purpose, not suspicion or impatience.

By employing these strategies and phrases, you can effectively manage project progress while nurturing positive working relationships. It’s all about being proactive, supportive, and clear in your communication, turning potential friction into forward momentum.

网友意见

user avatar

“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:

哪些句子拯救了你的英文邮件?

被外国人问「How are you?」时该怎么回答?

英语委婉地拒绝应该怎么说?

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~

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