Agree an action
What should we check before cancelling licences? Explain your plan.
What should we check before cancelling licences? Explain your plan.
1 · Notice the conversation
Colleague: What should we check before cancelling licences?
You: We should confirm next month’s needs before cancelling licences.
Colleague: How would that check help?
You: This helps us avoid removing accounts that new staff need.
Colleague: Which seats should we keep?
You: We should review licence utilisation and keep the seats people will use.
2 · Understand what each phrase does
recurring expense
a cost we pay again and again
The software fee is a recurring expense.
recurring 强调重复发生，不保证每次金额不变。licence utilisation
how many paid software seats we use
Our licence utilisation is low.
看使用率后还要确认未来需求，不能只凭一个数字马上取消全部账号。overhead
the cost of keeping the business running
Rent is an overhead.
不是产品原料等直接成本；overheads 常用复数表示这类费用。3 · Rehearse, then change the details
We should confirm next month’s needs before cancelling licences.
This helps us avoid removing accounts that new staff need.
We should review licence utilisation and keep the seats people will use.
Cancelling the remaining seats will reduce this recurring expense.
Keep the purpose; change the person, document or time. A simple, accurate sentence is enough.
4 · Respond to your colleague
What should we check before cancelling licences?
行动：先查下个月实际需求。
See one possible reply
We should confirm next month’s needs before cancelling licences.
How would that check help?
理由：避免节省时误删必需账号。
See one possible reply
This helps us avoid removing accounts that new staff need.
Which seats should we keep?
决定：结合当前使用与已确认需求，保留必要席位。
See one possible reply
We should review licence utilisation and keep the seats people will use.
5 · Try a different situation
What if all four new staff need accounts?
What if all four new staff need accounts?
Address the changed condition. Choose a practical next step and explain why it helps.
- My response addresses the changed condition.
- I explain one practical action and its likely effect.
- I make the next step clear.
6 · Recall without the model tomorrow
Who may need accounts next month?