最好的老板更会减负(上)

公司总是赞颂加法。利润、客户和股价应该上升，而非下降。创新就是源源不断地推出新产品。

双语精读

The best bosses don't just load more and more work on; they subtract things.

最好的老板不止会加活儿，他们也会减负。（上）

Companies are used to celebrating addition. Profits, customers and share prices should go up rather than fall. Innovation is the adding of new products.

公司总是赞颂加法。利润、客户和股价应该上升，而非下降。创新就是源源不断地推出新产品。

Larger numbers are a measure of career success: managers climb the corporate ladder by taking on more reports, running heftier budgets and trousering bigger salaries.

数字增加是衡量职业是否成功的一个标准：经理们要在职场上想步步高升，就得做更多的报告、管理预算更高的项目、赚得更多的票子。

Genuine superstars don't just add. They multiply. The best software programmers are tagged as "10x developers", for supposedly being ten times more productive than their peers.

真正的牛人不只会做加法，他们还会做乘法。最优秀的软件程序员会被贴上"10倍开发者"的标签，据说他们的工作效率是一般程序员的10倍。

Firms are not always opposed to subtraction. There are good kinds of cuts: carbon emissions, most obviously. Reducing costs is a necessary part of management, though not a welcome one. But the value of doing less is underestimated.

公司也并不总是反对减法。有一些减法是可取的：最明显的就是碳排放。尽管不得人心，但降低成本是管理中必不可少的部分。不过，做减法的价值还是被低估了。

The best bosses are those who take things away as well as add them on. That means clearing time for employees to get work done. Meetings are almost always called by bosses. Some are useful; many of them have all the pizzazz and impact of a speed-awareness course.

最好的老板是那些既能做加法也能做减法的人。这意味着为员工腾出时间来完成工作。会议几乎总是由老板召集，有些会议是有用的，但许多会议的活跃程度和影响力与超速警示课程差不多。

Shopify, an e-commerce firm, began the year by deleting 12,000 recurring meetings from corporate calendars, and asking everyone to think carefully before reinstating them. The company reports a rise in productivity as a result of the cull.

今年年初，电商公司Shopify从公司日程表中删除了1.2万个定期会议，并要求所有人在恢复这些会议之前仔细考虑清楚。据公司报告，削减会议之后，员工的工作效率有所提高。

The only thing worse than having too many meetings is not being invited to them at all. So whenever meetings do take place, surprisingly large numbers of people can turn up.

唯一比参加太多会议更糟糕的是压根儿没有受邀。因此，无论何时开会，到场的人总会出人意料地多。

Minus-minded managers will give employees permission not to attend if they are not needed. By the same token, good bosses will send messages when necessary, not every time a bright idea pops into their head.

懂得做减法的管理者会允许员工不出席非必要会议。同理，好老板只会在必要时才向员工传达信息，而不是每次灵光乍现就赶紧召集大家开会。

They will reduce the tempo of work, by leaving employees time to concentrate. They will be clear if something is urgent or not.

这样的老板能够给员工时间集中精力，从而放缓工作节奏。他们应当明白事情的轻重缓急。

A recent study by Laura Giurge of London Business School and Vanessa Bohns of Cornell University found that receivers of an email routinely overestimate how quickly its sender expects a reply.

伦敦商学院的劳拉·吉奇和康奈尔大学的瓦妮莎·博恩斯最近的一项研究发现，每当收到电子邮件，人们总会高估发件人希望他们回复的速度。

Subtraction is not just about removing day-to-day distractions. It's also about taking decisions to kill off projects and products that are going nowhere, and to focus efforts on the most important bits of the business.

做减法不仅仅是消除日常生活中的干扰，同时也意味着决定放弃那些毫无进展的项目和产品，将精力集中在最重要的业务上。

词汇预习

• obviously [高考]

  美[ˈɑːbviəsli] | 英[ˈɒbviəsli]

  adv.明显地

• awareness [高考]

  美[əˈwernəs] | 英[əˈweənəs]

  n. 认识；觉察；意识

• impact [高考]

  美[ˈɪmpækt , ɪmˈpækt] | 英[ˈɪmpækt , ɪmˈpækt]

  n. 影响；冲击力；撞击 vt. 挤入；压紧；撞击；对 ... 发生影响 vi. 冲击；撞击；产生影响

• productive [高考]

  美[prəˈdʌktɪv] | 英[prəˈdʌktɪv]

  adj. 富有成效的；多产的；生产性的；具有创造性的

• corporate [高考]

  美[ˈkɔːrpərət] | 英[ˈkɔːpərət]

  adj. 法人的；公司的；社团的；共同的；全体的

• productivity [高考]

  美[ˌprɑːdʌkˈtɪvəti] | 英[ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti]

  n. 生产率；生产力

• overestimate [高考]

  美[ˌoʊvərˈestɪmeɪt , ˌoʊvərˈestɪmət] | 英[ˌəʊvərˈestɪmeɪt , ˌəʊvərˈestɪmət]

  v. 过高估计；过高出价 n. 估计过高；评价过高；出价过高

• subtract [高考]

  美[səbˈtrækt] | 英[səbˈtrækt]

  vt. 减去 vi. 减少

• software [高考]

  美[ˈsɔːftwer] | 英[ˈsɒftweə(r)]

  n. 软件

• urgent [高考]

  美[ˈɜːrdʒənt] | 英[ˈɜːdʒənt]

  adj. 紧急的；急迫的；坚持要求的

• load [高考]

  美[loʊd] | 英[ləʊd]

  n. 负荷；重担；装载量 v. 装载；给(枪)装子弹；[计算机] 装入

• multiply [高考]

  美[ˈmʌltɪplaɪ] | 英[ˈmʌltɪplaɪ]

  vt. 乘；增加 vi. 做乘法；繁衍 adv. 多样地；多重地

• as a result of [高考]

  美[æz ə rɪˈzʌlt əv] | 英[æz ə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv]

  作为 ... 的结果； 由于

• just about [高考]

  美[dʒʌst əˈbaʊt] | 英[dʒʌst əˈbaut]

  差不多； 几乎

• means [高考]

  美[miːnz] | 英[miːnz]

  n. 方法；手段；收入；财产 v. 意思是，意味（动词mean的第三人称单数）

• commerce [高考]

  美[ˈkɑːmɜːrs] | 英[ˈkɒmɜːs]

  n. 贸易；商业

• token [高考]

  美[ˈtoʊkən] | 英[ˈtəʊkən]

  n. 象征；标志；纪念品；代币；代价券；[语言学]语言符号 adj. 象征性的；装样子的

• surprisingly [四级]

  美[sərˈpraɪzɪŋli] | 英[sə(r)ˈpraɪzɪŋli]

  adv. 惊人地；意外地

• email [四级]

  美['imeɪl] | 英['i:meɪl]

  vt. 发电子邮件；给……发电子邮件 n. 电子邮件，电子信函

• routinely [四级]

  美[ruˈtinlɪ] | 英[ru:'ti:nlɪ]

  adv. 日常地；通常地；例行公事地

• supposedly [四级]

  美[səˈpoʊzɪdli] | 英[səˈpəʊzɪdli]

  adv. 推测地；大概

• day-to-day [四级]

  美[ˈdetəˈde] | 英[ˈdeɪtəˈdeɪ]

  adj. 日常的；逐日的

• subtraction [四级]

  美[səb'trækʃən] | 英[səb'trækʃ(ə)n]

  n. 减法；减去

• rise in [四级]

  美 | 英

  在……方面的增加；上涨

• opposed to [四级]

  美 | 英

  反对；反对…的

• kill off [四级]

  美[kɪl ɔːf] | 英[kɪl ɒf]

  杀光；消灭

• clearing [六级]

  美[ˈklɪrɪŋ] | 英[ˈklɪərɪŋ]

  n. (森林中的)空地；清除；结算；票据交换

• tempo [专四]

  美[ˈtempoʊ] | 英[ˈtempəʊ]

  n. 拍子；节奏；速率

• sender [考研]

  美['sendər] | 英[ˈsendə(r)]

  n. 寄件人；发报机；送话器

• don [托福]

  美[dɑn] | 英[dɒn]

  n. 先生（西班牙用语）；(牛津、剑桥大学的)指导教师 v. 穿上

• opposed [托福]

  美[əˈpoʊzd] | 英[əˈpəʊzd]

  adj. 反对的；对立的；敌对的

• recurring [托福]

  美[rɪ'kɜɪŋ] | 英[rɪ'kɜ:rɪŋ]

  adj. 再发的；循环的

重点讲解

The best bosses don't just load more and more work on; they subtract things.

最好的老板不止会加活儿，他们也会减负。（上）

load   n. & v.

1. 作名词

（1）重负；负载，负荷

【例】In addition to their own food, they must carry a load of eighty pounds.

除了自己的食物之外，他们还必须扛80磅重的东西。

（2）压力，负荷

【例】Consumers will find it difficult to service their heavy load of debt.

消费者会觉得难以承受沉重的债务所带来的负担。

Arthur has a light teaching load.

亚瑟的教学工作量不大。

（3）一大堆，大量

（英文释义：often used to express one’s disapproval or dislike of something）

【搭配】a load of 许多，大量

【例】She was talking a load of rubbish. 

她满口都是废话。

2. 作动词

（1）（向车辆或容器里）大量装入

【例】 The three men seemed to have finished loading the truck.

 这3个人好像已经装好了那辆卡车。

（2）使负载（大量或过量东西）

（英文释义：to encumber or oppress (someone or something) with something heavy, laborious, or disheartening : BURDEN）

【例】a company loaded with debts 一个负债累累的公司

load more work on him 给他增加更多的工作

Companies are used to celebrating addition. Profits, customers and share prices should go up rather than fall. Innovation is the adding of new products.

公司总是赞颂加法。利润、客户和股价应该上升，而非下降。创新就是源源不断地推出新产品。

climb the corporate ladder   攀登企业阶梯：指在职业生涯中逐步提升自己的职位和地位，特别是在公司或组织中逐步晋升到更高级别的职位。

（英文释义：“Climbing the corporate ladder” is an expression used to describe one's advancement within a company through promotions.）

【例】If women want to climb the corporate ladder, they may have to sacrifice some of their family life.

如果女性想在公司晋升，她们可能不得不牺牲一些家庭生活。

take on 

1. 承担，接受

（英文释义：to accept a particular job or responsibility）

【例】I will take on the responsibility of organizing the event.

我将承担组织活动的责任。

2. 与 (尤指强于自己的人) 较量

（英文释义：If you take someone on, you fight them or compete against them, especially when they are bigger or more powerful than you are. 

【例】Democrats were reluctant to take on a president whose popularity ratings were historically high.

 民主党不愿意与一个支持率创历史新高的总统较量。

3. 呈现

（英文释义：If something takes on a new appearance or quality, it develops that appearance or quality.）

【例】Believing he had only a year to live, his writing took on a feverish intensity.

 他认为自己只有一年能活了，他的文字呈现出一种极度的狂热。

trouser  n. & v. 

1. 作名词，裤子

【例】a pair of trousers 一条裤子

trouser pocket 裤兜

2. 作动词，接受钱物；把…装进腰包，私吞

（英文释义：to get a large amount of money, especially in an unfair or illegal way）

【例】He trousered 80,000 pounds of taxpayers’ money.

他贪污了纳税人的八万英镑。

Larger numbers are a measure of career success: managers climb the corporate ladder by taking on more reports, running heftier budgets and trousering bigger salaries.

数字增加是衡量职业是否成功的一个标准：经理们要在职场上想步步高升，就得做更多的报告、管理预算更高的项目、赚得更多的票子。

climb the corporate ladder   攀登企业阶梯：指在职业生涯中逐步提升自己的职位和地位，特别是在公司或组织中逐步晋升到更高级别的职位。

（英文释义：“Climbing the corporate ladder” is an expression used to describe one's advancement within a company through promotions.）

【例】If women want to climb the corporate ladder, they may have to sacrifice some of their family life.

如果女性想在公司晋升，她们可能不得不牺牲一些家庭生活。

take on 

1. 承担，接受

（英文释义：to accept a particular job or responsibility）

【例】I will take on the responsibility of organizing the event.

我将承担组织活动的责任。

2. 与 (尤指强于自己的人) 较量

（英文释义：If you take someone on, you fight them or compete against them, especially when they are bigger or more powerful than you are. 

【例】Democrats were reluctant to take on a president whose popularity ratings were historically high.

 民主党不愿意与一个支持率创历史新高的总统较量。

3. 呈现

（英文释义：If something takes on a new appearance or quality, it develops that appearance or quality.）

【例】Believing he had only a year to live, his writing took on a feverish intensity.

 他认为自己只有一年能活了，他的文字呈现出一种极度的狂热。

trouser  n. & v. 

1. 作名词，裤子

【例】a pair of trousers 一条裤子

trouser pocket 裤兜

2. 作动词，接受钱物；把…装进腰包，私吞

（英文释义：to get a large amount of money, especially in an unfair or illegal way）

【例】He trousered 80,000 pounds of taxpayers’ money.

他贪污了纳税人的八万英镑。

Genuine superstars**** don't just**** add.**** They**** multiply****.**** The best**** software**** programmers are tagged**** as**** "10x**** developers****", for supposedly**** being ten times more**** productive**** than**** their peers.****

真正的牛人不只会做加法，他们还会做乘法。最优秀的软件程序员会被贴上"10倍开发者"的标签，据说他们的工作效率是一般程序员的10倍。

Firms are not always**** opposed to**** subtraction.**** There are good**** kinds of**** cuts****:**** carbon**** emissions,**** most**** obviously.**** Reducing**** costs is**** a necessary part**** of**** management****,**** though**** not a welcome one.**** But the value of**** doing less**** is**** underestimated****.****

公司也并不总是反对减法。有一些减法是可取的：最明显的就是碳排放。尽管不得人心，但降低成本是管理中必不可少的部分。不过，做减法的价值还是被低估了。

The best bosses are those who take things away as well as add them on. That means clearing time for employees to get work done. Meetings are almost always called by bosses. Some are useful; many of them have all the pizzazz and impact of a speed-awareness course.

最好的老板是那些既能做加法也能做减法的人。这意味着为员工腾出时间来完成工作。会议几乎总是由老板召集，有些会议是有用的，但许多会议的活跃程度和影响力与超速警示课程差不多。

pizzazz   n. 激情; 活力; 时髦

（英文释义：If you say that someone or something has pizzazz, you mean that they are very exciting, energetic, and stylish.）

【例】We need someone with youth, glamour and pizzazz. 

我们需要一位年富力强、魅力十足、风度翩翩的人。

Shopify, an e-commerce firm, began the year by deleting 12,000 recurring meetings from corporate calendars, and asking everyone to think carefully before reinstating them. The company reports a rise in productivity as a result of the cull.

今年年初，电商公司Shopify从公司日程表中删除了1.2万个定期会议，并要求所有人在恢复这些会议之前仔细考虑清楚。据公司报告，削减会议之后，员工的工作效率有所提高。

reinstate   v.

1. 使恢复原职；使重返岗位

【例】He was reinstated in his post. 

他重新回到了自己的岗位。

2. 把…放回原处，使恢复原状

【例】There have been repeated calls to reinstate the death penalty. 

不断有人呼吁恢复死刑。

The only thing worse than having too many meetings is not being invited to them at all. So whenever meetings do take place, surprisingly large numbers of people can turn up.

唯一比参加太多会议更糟糕的是压根儿没有受邀。因此，无论何时开会，到场的人总会出人意料地多。

by the same token   同理，同样，出于相似的原因或方式：以类似的方式或同样的逻辑。

（英文释义：used to mean that something you are about to say is also true, for the same reasons as what has just been said）

【例】He believes that by the same token, if you work hard, you will achieve success.

他认为，同理可见，如果你努力工作，你将会取得成功。

【近义词】similarly, likewise

pop into one’s mind   突然想起：指某个想法或记忆突然出现在某人的脑海中。

（英文释义：to suddenly think of something）

【例】All at once an idea popped into her head.

她突然想到一个主意。

Minus-minded managers will give employees permission not to attend if they are not needed. By the same token, good bosses will send messages when necessary, not every time a bright idea pops into their head.

懂得做减法的管理者会允许员工不出席非必要会议。同理，好老板只会在必要时才向员工传达信息，而不是每次灵光乍现就赶紧召集大家开会。

by the same token   同理，同样，出于相似的原因或方式：以类似的方式或同样的逻辑。

（英文释义：used to mean that something you are about to say is also true, for the same reasons as what has just been said）

【例】He believes that by the same token, if you work hard, you will achieve success.

他认为，同理可见，如果你努力工作，你将会取得成功。

【近义词】similarly, likewise

pop into one’s mind   突然想起：指某个想法或记忆突然出现在某人的脑海中。

（英文释义：to suddenly think of something）

【例】All at once an idea popped into her head.

她突然想到一个主意。

They**** will**** reduce**** the tempo of**** work****,**** by**** leaving employees time**** to**** concentrate.**** They**** will**** be**** clear if**** something is**** urgent**** or**** not.****

这样的老板能够给员工时间集中精力，从而放缓工作节奏。他们应当明白事情的轻重缓急。

A recent**** study by**** Laura Giurge**** of**** London**** Business**** School**** and Vanessa Bohns of**** Cornell University**** found that**** receivers of**** an**** email routinely overestimate**** how quickly its sender**** expects a reply.****

伦敦商学院的劳拉·吉奇和康奈尔大学的瓦妮莎·博恩斯最近的一项研究发现，每当收到电子邮件，人们总会高估发件人希望他们回复的速度。

Subtraction is**** not just**** about removing**** day-to****-day distractions****.**** It****'s also**** about taking**** decisions to**** kill**** off projects**** and products**** that**** are going nowhere,**** and to**** focus efforts on**** the most**** important bits**** of**** the business****.****

做减法不仅仅是消除日常生活中的干扰，同时也意味着决定放弃那些毫无进展的项目和产品，将精力集中在最重要的业务上。

课后练习

• Most companies embrace ____.

  A. innovation and transformation

  B. addition and expansion

  C. efficiency and speed

  D. subtraction and simplicity

• What does the author think about meetings?

  A. They facilitate the communication of ideas.

  B. Most of them are a waste of time.

  C. They should be better organized by bosses.

  D. They help increase the overall productivity.

• What advice does the author give bosses about meetings?

  A. They should invite attendees a few hours beforehand.

  B. They should include as many people as possible in the meeting.

  C. They should call a meeting only when it is necessary.

  D. They should encourage employees to share their ideas in the meeting.

• The study by Laura Giurge shows that ____.

  A. people should reply to emails quickly

  B. sending emails is more efficient than having meetings

  C. many emails do not require a timely reply

  D. it saves time to deal with emails first