While speaking with a visitor during an appointment, you should bear in mind that listening is as essential as talking. Nothing is more irritating and insulting to a visitor to have an appointment interrupted by continual phone calls. You need instruct your assistant to hold all calls except emergencies until the end of your appointment. If your phone system includes a "message taking" feature, be sure to make use them. If the caller is veering too far away from the subject, you might say: "Since I have another appointment in a few minutes, I'd like to discuss our primary concern."
在與你約見的`來訪者交談時，要記住傾聽和交談同樣重要。沒有比不斷被電話打擾更加令來訪者惱怒和感到羞辱的事了。你要告訴你的助理幫你接聽電話、不要打斷你的約會除非有特別緊急的事宜。如果你的電話系統包括"留言"功能，記得使用它。如果來訪者離題太遠，你可以說：“因爲我幾分鐘後還有一個約會，我們還是討論我們最初談論的問題吧。”
