Gossip

说闲话也升职

We all know better than to indulge in office gossip, but we also know how hard it is to hold ourselves back from this devilish delight.1 Fortunately, you don't have to swear off this delicious vice2—if you learn how to do it right.

The word "gossip" itself has long had bad press3. Says Rohani Mahmud, a recruitment consultant with Drake Personnel: "It has a lot of negative connotations, but take away the malice and viciousness, and what you have is an exchange of information between people."4

In reality gossip is a way people network5 or bond with each other. Psychologists also claim that gossiping can be good for you.

Early this year an article in an Australian daily The Courier Mail said gossip can relieve tension and boost morale6 in the workplace. Idle chatters often make staff feel better about their job and colleagues, especially in organisations undergoing change or upheaval7.

Gossip in the office does not centre so much around personal8 stuff, but rather on who gets hired, fired or promoted! The trick9 about gossiping is knowing the difference between bad and good gossip. Bad gossip slanders10 and hurts people while good gossip can go far in helping your career.

Pick on the right information and use it to your advantage -you'll be a savvy11 player and will soon be on your way up the corporate ladder. We give you the master tricks of the trade.

Master trick #1: Building your network

Let's face it: truly valuable gossip does not just fall in to your lap. To get the latest buzz12, you have to improve your visibility by networking within your industry. Get to know who to lunch and have tea breaks with.

Most importantly, make time to network with the right people. Start attending company functions, conferences, conventions and wherever that lets you schmooze with folks that matter.13

According to Ken Lloyd, author of Jerks at Work, start watching and listening to people around you to determine the ones you should meet. Exchange name cards and keep in touch through email.

When you do interact with your contacts again, ask questions: "So, what's new at your office?"or "Any exciting changes recently?"

Do also pass along updates that your contact might find valuable to establish a give-and-take relationship.14

Be patient and you'll be wired into the loop in due time.15

Master trick #2:Play it to your advantage

Once you've gotten hold of some juicy16 information, use it to your advantage. Make a point of letting your boss in on information that she or he needs to know -industry happenings, mergers and new hires.17 Even if the boss already knows, it'll show that you're connected and on the ball18.

Experts say that you can't lose if you bring information to your boss. According to Ronna Lichtenberg, author of Work Would Be Great If It Weren't For The People, the best thing that you can do on your job is to help your boss win. If your boss regards you as well-informed, chances are you'll be taken up the ladder when she or he goes places19.

Master trick #3 : Solutions are always welcomed

If you hear a lot of complaining in your department, don't run to your boss and be a tattletale20. Instead, develop a game plan to solve the problem-and take your ideas to the top.21

Angeline Fernandez, 24, an administrator, managed to solve a major problem on the job by keeping her ears close to the grapevine22. "Day in, day out, I heard colleagues bitching about the new girl in accounts who was sloppy in her work,"23 she says. "I didn't want to tell on24 her so I casually mentioned to my boss that her work wasn't the best and that we would be better off putting her in customer service where we would be taking advantage of her great people skills."

Ms Angeline's boss was impressed with her take-charge25 attitude, and when things began to run smoothly, she rewarded her with a promotion.

Be sharp, energised and focused on solutions, not problems. Even if your suggestions are not accepted, at least your boss knows that you're constantly working to improve things to make her/his job easier. Before you know it, you'll be the trusted right-hand26 person.

Master trick #4: Time to seal your lips

No matter how much you thrive on gossip, there's some that would be better kept to yourself -like the secretary who's sleeping with her boss or a colleague with alternative sexual preferences. Personal gossip can be more deadly and damaging than you think. It could also affect your own career.

1. 谁都明白不应该在办公室随意说长道短，可我们也很清楚要抗拒这种不道德的乐趣是多么的困难。know better than: 明事理而不至于。
2. swear off: <口>放弃；vice: 恶习。
3. have a bad press: 原意是“受到新闻舆论的苛评”，这里可理解为“口碑不好”。
4. 说长道短常常带有贬义，但如果不是带着怨恨和恶意的话，那你所做的只是在与别人交流信息而已。
5. network: v. 与人交流。
6. morale/m=#ra:l/: 士气，精神面貌。
7. upheaval/7p#hi:v2l/: 剧变，动乱。
8. personal: 涉及隐私的。
9. trick: 技巧，窍门。
10. slander: 诽谤，诋毁。
11. savvy/#s*vi/: 聪慧的，有经验的。
12. buzz: 流言，传闻。
13. 参与到公司的各类宴会、协商会、职员大会一类的任何一处能让你有机会和有关人士闲谈的场所中去。schmooze/smu:z/: 闲谈，闲扯。
14. 你也可以向你的熟人讲讲对他或许有用的最新消息，建立起一种你来我往的关系。update: 最新消息，新的情况。
15. 耐心一点，到了一定的时候你就会挤进社交圈了。loop: 这里指社交圈子。
16. juicy: 包含有令人震惊的信息的。
17. 一定要注意你跟上司说的正是他/她需要知道的消息——业内最新动态、企业间的合并、新雇员的聘用等等。make a point of doing: 特别注意。
18. on the ball: 有心的，留心着。
19. go places: 离开（工作岗位）。
20. tattletale: 告密者，搬弄是非的人。
21. 而是制定一个问题的解决对策，并将它反映到你的上司那儿去。game plan: 行动计划，对策。
22. grapevine: 谣言、消息等暗中传播的途径。
23. 每天我都听到同事们抱怨财务部新来的那个女孩做事马马虎虎。day in, day out: 每天（不间断地）。
24. tell on: 告发。
25. take-charge: 负责任的。
26. right-hand: 最得力的。