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."
在与你约见的来访者交谈时，要记住倾听和交谈同样重要。没有比不断被电话打扰更加令来访者恼怒和感到羞辱的事了。你要告诉你的助理帮你接听电话、不要打断你的约会除非有特别紧急的事宜。如果你的电话系统包括"留言"功能，记得使用它。如果来访者离题太远，你可以说：“因为我几分钟后还有一个约会，我们还是讨论我们最初谈论的问题吧。”