Private discussions during a meeting
Private discussions during a meeting
(OP)
During the course of a meeting it is sometimes necessary for one side or the other to have a private discussion. It is perfectly acceptable to ask to leave the room to have that discussion.
However, in today's international world of business one side may simply change languages, assuming that the other side can't understand what is being discussed.
If you understand the language of the "private" conversation do you:
Say nothing, and evesdrop.
Say nothing, but try not to pay attention.
Let them know that you understand, and that if they need to have a private discussion perhaps they should leave the room.
Let them know by commenting on what they said in "private" once the full meeting resumes.
However, in today's international world of business one side may simply change languages, assuming that the other side can't understand what is being discussed.
If you understand the language of the "private" conversation do you:
Say nothing, and evesdrop.
Say nothing, but try not to pay attention.
Let them know that you understand, and that if they need to have a private discussion perhaps they should leave the room.
Let them know by commenting on what they said in "private" once the full meeting resumes.





RE: Private discussions during a meeting
TTFN
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
HVAC68
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
To conduct a private conversation, in a foreign language, in the same room is incredibly un-professional, and just plain rude.
If things are at that point, why can't you say something along the lines of , "There's some merit to that position, but there are some things on our end that we need to work out so we can move forward. Let's take a quick break, and get back together in 15 minutes."
Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
If we had understood the second language, yes I would consider it OK to simply listen in and use that knowledge to continue the meeting if the second language speakers conducted a private discussion in fount of you. After all if they had the discussion in English then there would have been no discussion about the issue.
Had they excused themselves to a private area and conducted the sidebar in the second language then actively eavesdropping would be unethical but anything said in plain hearing of you would be acceptable to use.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
A similar concept would be passing notes during a meeting that are written large enough for the other party to view.
If private information is required to be exchaged ask for a moment to be excused. It may be rude but reveal your position in an important negotiation is costly. Information is critical.
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
We see this frequently when people with a common language either want to clarify what has been said in English or work out how to make their point in English. In most cases they are short conversations that we all pause for but it is true that even if you don't know the language you can judge a lot by body language. If it is a more political discussion I would suggest a break.
What does cause amusment it when 2 nationalities that both speak English start asking one another for clarification. Brits, Americans, Canadaians, Austrailians for example.
Also I have in the past told collegues I do not speak French then when a joke is craked laugh, that can cause constanation as they try to remember all the comments they have made about thr 'Roast Beef'
John
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
Take in the information, don't reveal your knowledge, and use it to your advantage.
(Note: This advice may not necessarily be the best thing to do, unless you are in a very vindictive mood like I happen to be today.)
D
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
I have had both Germans and Chinese groups break into their own native language discussion feeling that it was a private discussion. Only to my amusment, I had junior engineers that were fluent in both of the languages. He simply passed me note as to what they were discussing and we could head them off. Needles to say they were a bit perplexed as to how we were able to nail their best laid plans.
After the meetings were over, I had the junior engineers speak to folks in their native languages. Maybe next time they were in a meeting, they were not so open with their discussions.
Ken
TXiceman
www.rae-corp.com
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
TTFN
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
After being asked a direct question, they would huddle and speak amongst themselves as though they were generating a consensus to answer the question. They actually talked about the women present they would prefer to sleep with, and their opinions on where they would dine that night. My boss waited until the final session and introduced snippets of their comments into general negotiations, such as "If we agree to the terms as they stand we can all go out to *restaurant they decided on* to celebrate."
The look of embarrased shock on their face as it dawned on them that someone understood everything that they said was priceless.
LewTam Inc.
Petrophysicist, Head Stockman, Gun Welder, Gun Shearer, Ski Instructor, Drama Coach.
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
1. Private discussion during a meeting - Is this acceptable or not ? regardless of which language you use.
2. If it's acceptable to have a private discussion during a meeting, maybe with the consent of the rest of the people - then, is it all right to use a language that's not understood by others ?
My take would be
1. Private discussion is a no-no unless it's just a quick exchange of ideas to arrive at a common acceptable answer. There can be instances when a technical & commercial person attend a meeting and they have to sometimes discuss very briefly to answer a query. The catchword here is "BRIEFLY". If it's going to take a longer time to discuss, it's better they get excused from the meeting, discuss separately and come with an answer - language has no relevance here, since it's plain RUDE to have a private discussion while a meeting is on.
2. It's much more RUDE to talk in a foreign language during a meeting, as it is very offensive. It's best avoided.
HVAC68
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
I don't mind and as some already said non verbal communication is very important so by being there (and understanding some disperse words) I believe that I gain some advantage.
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
It is always a matter of ease of communication with them rather than discussing restaurants and/or women, and I may participate with them to some extent in their language, but try to bring them back to English in short order since the management present are lost to it all.
I do, at times, explain to the others who do not speak the language of the private session what is being discussed in German or Spanish. Frankly, even if the intense side discussions were being held in English, it still would be foreign language to the management personnel, needing translation to terms that they could understand, if that were possible.
rmw
RE: Private discussions during a meeting
In the end - any discussions in any language in an open meeting regardless are open even if they were meant to be "private". It there are private comments - either don't say them or write them down and pass as note or ask to be excused. If you understand their language - more power to you.