办公室烦心事的小小安慰(下)

哥伦比亚大学商学院的蔡薇和其合著者最近的研究发现，当团队中有一些马屁精时，团队的表现会更好。

双语精读

Recent research by Wei Cai of Columbia Business School and her co-authors found that teams performed better when they had some crawlers among them.

哥伦比亚大学商学院的蔡薇和其合著者最近的研究发现，当团队中有一些马屁精时，团队的表现会更好。

People who got better assessments from their superiors than from their peers in performance-review processes were designated as "upward influencers" in the study.

在这项研究中，那些在绩效评估过程中，从上级那里比从同事那里得到更好评价的人被认定为“向上影响者”。

Too many characters of this sort is bad: at some point, team members will expend more effort competing for recognition than getting actual work done.

这类角色太多是不好的：到了某个阶段，团队成员将花费更多精力来争取认可，而不是完成实际工作。

But because these personality types are prepared to invest more time communicating with their managers, the presence of a handful of them ensures that a team does not become invisible to the bosses. A few suck-ups can be good for everyone.

但由于这类性格的人准备好要投入更多时间与经理沟通，所以这一少部分人的存在确保了整个团队不会在老板眼中隐形。有几个马屁精对每个人都有好处。

What of traits that workers find most irritating about themselves, the things that may be holding them back?

员工最恼火自己的什么特点？可能阻碍他们前进的是什么？

Impostor syndrome, the belief some people have that they do not deserve to be in positions of influence, is usually thought of as being bad for individuals and organisations alike. But it can have an upside.

冒名顶替者综合症，即一些人认为自己不配担任有影响力的职位，人们通常认为这种心态对个人和组织都不利。但它也有积极的一面。

Research by Basima Tewfik of the MIT Sloan School of Management found that people who worry about being an impostor are regarded by others as having better interpersonal skills than those who are untroubled by self-doubt.

麻省理工学院斯隆管理学院的巴西玛·图菲克的研究发现，在其他人看来，担心成为冒名顶替者的人比那些不为自我怀疑所困扰的人拥有更好的人际交往技巧。

It may be that a concern about lacking competence leads people to compensate by developing stronger relationships with others. In a world that increasingly prizes collaboration and soft skills, that is not to be sniffed at.

也许，因为担忧能力不足，人们会通过与他人建立更牢固的关系来进行补偿。在一个越来越重视合作和软技能的世界里，这一点不容忽视。

Weaknesses can turn into advantages in other ways, too. The idealised entrepreneur may drip with confidence and charisma, for example.

弱点也可以在其他方面转化为优势。例如，理想化的企业家可能洋溢着自信和魅力。

But not everyone fits that mould. In a recent study, Lauren Howe and Jochen Menges of the University of Zurich asked participants in an investment game who had been asked about their own flaws to allocate funds to startups.

但并非每个人都是这种性格。在最近的一项研究中，苏黎世大学的劳伦·霍韦和约亨·门格斯要求一项投资游戏的参与者为初创企业分配资金，这些参与者被问及自己有什么缺点。

They found that entrepreneurs who reveal a personal shortcoming, such as indecisiveness or insecurity, are more likely to attract funding from investors who share these same characteristics.

他们发现，展露出优柔寡断或缺乏安全感等个人缺点的创业者，更有可能从具有相同特点的投资者那里获得资金。

Some weaknesses are not to be admitted: stupidity, say, or narcolepsy. But flaws can sometimes help people get ahead, not hinder them.

有些弱点是不能承认的：比如愚蠢或嗜睡症。但缺点有时可以帮助人们取得进展，而不是阻碍他们。

The problem with silver linings is that they are attached to clouds. You are still being interrupted all the time. You are still surrounded by annoying colleagues. Impostor syndrome still causes you unnecessary anxiety. Your weaknesses are still weaknesses. But there are bright sides to most things in office life, and they go beyond the payslip.

一线光亮的问题在于它们附着在乌云之上。你仍然总是被人打断。你仍然被讨厌的同事包围。冒名顶替者综合症仍然给你带来不必要的焦虑。你的弱点仍然是弱点。但办公室生活中的大多数事情都有光明的一面，而且它们并不局限于工资条。

词汇预习

• increasingly [高考]

  美[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli] | 英[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli]

  adv. 逐渐地；越来越多地

• invest [高考]

  美[ɪnˈvest] | 英[ɪnˈvest]

  v. 投资；投入

• recognition [高考]

  美[ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn] | 英[ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn]

  n. 识别；认识；承认；认可；表彰，赞誉；（政府对他国的）外交认可

• presence [高考]

  美[ˈprezns] | 英[ˈprezns]

  n. 出席；存在；到场；【生】存在度

• investment [高考]

  美[ɪnˈvestmənt] | 英[ɪnˈvestmənt]

  n. 投资；投资额；投入

• invisible [高考]

  美[ɪnˈvɪzəbl] | 英[ɪnˈvɪzəbl]

  adj. 看不见的；无形的 n. 隐形人(或物)

• entrepreneur [高考]

  美[ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr] | 英[ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː(r)]

  n. 企业家；承包商；主办者

• upside [高考]

  美[ˈʌpˌsaɪd] | 英[ˈʌpsaɪd]

  n. 好的一面，优势；（股票价格）上涨 prep. [美，非正式]对着…一侧

• belief [高考]

  美[bɪˈliːf] | 英[bɪˈliːf]

  n. 信念；信仰；相信

• anxiety [高考]

  美[æŋˈzaɪəti] | 英[æŋˈzaɪəti]

  n. 焦虑；担心；渴望

• deserve [高考]

  美[dɪˈzɜːrv] | 英[dɪˈzɜːv]

  vt. 应受；值得

• actual [高考]

  美[ˈæktʃuəl] | 英[ˈæktʃuəl]

  adj. 实际的；事实上的

• alike [高考]

  美[əˈlaɪk] | 英[əˈlaɪk]

  adj. 相似的；同样的 adv. 一样；以同样的方式

• upward [高考]

  美[ˈʌpwərd] | 英[ˈʌpwəd]

  adj. 向上的；上升的 adv. 向上；上升

• shortcoming [高考]

  美[ˈʃɔːrtkʌmɪŋ] | 英[ˈʃɔːtkʌmɪŋ]

  n. 缺点；短处

• self [高考]

  美[self] | 英[self]

  n. 自己；本性；自我 pron. 我自己；你自己；他或她自己 adj.同一的；纯净的；单一的 v. 近亲繁殖；自花授粉

• compensate [高考]

  美[ˈkɑːmpenseɪt] | 英[ˈkɒmpenseɪt]

  v. 补偿；赔偿；付报酬

• competence [高考]

  美[ˈkɑːmpɪtəns] | 英[ˈkɒmpɪtəns]

  n. 能力；胜任；管辖权

• allocate [高考]

  美[ˈæləkeɪt] | 英[ˈæləkeɪt]

  vt. 分派；分配；分配额

• handful [高考]

  美[ˈhændfʊl] | 英[ˈhændfʊl]

  n. 一把；少数，少量； 难以控制的人（或事物）

• suck [高考]

  美[sʌk] | 英[sʌk]

  vt. 啜；吸入；吸收 vi. 吸；吸收；奉承；[俚]烂 n. 吸吮；吸力

• concern about [高考]

  美[kənˈsɚn əˈbaʊt] | 英[kənˈsə:n əˈbaut]

  对 ... 的关心； 对 ... 忧虑

• mould [高考]

  美[moʊld] | 英[məʊld]

  n. 模具，铸模；类型，个性；霉，霉菌；框架，型芯；松软沃土，腐殖土 v. 使…成形，用模子制作，浇铸；影响，塑造；（使）紧贴于，吻合；（使）发霉 【名】（Mould）（英、美、爱）莫尔德（人名）

• syndrome [高考]

  美[ˈsɪndroʊm] | 英[ˈsɪndrəʊm]

  n. 症候群；综合症

• drip [四级]

  美[drɪp] | 英[drɪp]

  n. 滴；点滴；乏味的人 v. 滴下；漏出

• interpersonal [四级]

  美[ˌɪntərˈpɜːrsənl] | 英[ˌɪntəˈpɜːsənl]

  adj. 人与人之间的；人际关系的

• collaboration [四级]

  美[kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃn] | 英[kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃn]

  n. 合作；通敌

• attached to [四级]

  美[əˈtætʃt tu] | 英[əˈtætʃt tu:]

  附属于； 隶属于

• get ahead [四级]

  美[ɡɛt əˈhɛd] | 英[ɡet əˈhed]

  取得进步

• hinder [四级]

  美[ˈhɪndər] | 英[ˈhɪndə(r)]

  v. 阻碍；打扰 adj. 后面的

• funding [四级]

  美[ˈfʌndɪŋ] | 英[ˈfʌndɪŋ]

  n. 资金

• insecurity [六级]

  美[ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊrɪti] | 英[ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərɪti]

  n. 不安全；不牢靠；局促不安；心神不定

• be good for [六级]

  美[bi ɡʊd fɔr] | 英[bi: ɡud fɔ:]

  对 ... 有好处

• expend [专四]

  美[ɪkˈspend] | 英[ɪkˈspend]

  vt. 花费；消耗

• charisma [专八]

  美[kəˈrɪzmə] | 英[kəˈrɪzmə]

  n. 非凡的领导力；魅力

• self-doubt [考研]

  美[ˈsɛlfˈdaʊt] | 英[ˈselfˈdaut]

  n. 缺少自信；自我疑惑

• developing [雅思]

  美[dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ] | 英[dɪˈveləpɪŋ]

  adj. 发展中的

重点讲解

Recent research by Wei Cai of Columbia Business School and her co-authors found that teams performed better when they had some crawlers among them.

哥伦比亚大学商学院的蔡薇和其合著者最近的研究发现，当团队中有一些马屁精时，团队的表现会更好。

assessment   n.

1. 看法，评价

【例】What’s Michael’s assessment of the situation?

迈克尔对局势看法如何？

2. 估计，估价

【例】a tax assessment应纳税评估

3. 考核

【例】written exams and other forms of assessment

笔试及其他形式的考核

review   n. & v.

1. 作名词

（1）（对图书、戏剧、电影等的）评价，评论

【例】The paper published a review of her book.

报纸刊登了一篇对她的书的评论。

（2）检查，检讨

【例】The terms of the contract are under review.

合同条文正在审议。

（3）汇报；回顾

【例】She had been reviewing the previous week on her way home.

她在回家的路上对前一个星期进行了回顾。

2. 作动词

（1）写（关于书籍、戏剧、电影等的）评论

【例】The play was reviewed in the national newspapers.

全国性报纸都对这部戏剧作了评论。

（2）评审，审查

【例】The company is reviewing its business travel policy.

该公司正在审查其商务旅行政策。

（3）（尤指为准备考试而）温习，复习

【例】Jonas helped me review for the test.

乔纳斯帮助我复习备考。

designate   v. & a.

1. 作动词

（1）命名；指定，认定

【例】This area has been designated as a National Park.

本区已定为国家公园。

（2）选定，委任（某人任某职）

【例】The director is allowed to designate his/her successor.

主任获准选定自己的继任人。

（3）标明；标示

【例】The different types are designated by the letters A, B and C.

不同的类型分别用字母 A、B 和 C 标明。

2. 作形容词：（已受委派）尚未上任的；（已当选）尚未就职的

【例】an interview with the director designate

与未到任主任的面谈

People who got better assessments from their superiors than from their peers in performance-review processes were designated as “upward influencers” in the study.

在这项研究中，那些在绩效评估过程中，从上级那里比从同事那里得到更好评价的人被认定为“向上影响者”。

assessment   n.

1. 看法，评价

【例】What’s Michael’s assessment of the situation?

迈克尔对局势看法如何？

2. 估计，估价

【例】a tax assessment应纳税评估

3. 考核

【例】written exams and other forms of assessment

笔试及其他形式的考核

review   n. & v.

1. 作名词

（1）（对图书、戏剧、电影等的）评价，评论

【例】The paper published a review of her book.

报纸刊登了一篇对她的书的评论。

（2）检查，检讨

【例】The terms of the contract are under review.

合同条文正在审议。

（3）汇报；回顾

【例】She had been reviewing the previous week on her way home.

她在回家的路上对前一个星期进行了回顾。

2. 作动词

（1）写（关于书籍、戏剧、电影等的）评论

【例】The play was reviewed in the national newspapers.

全国性报纸都对这部戏剧作了评论。

（2）评审，审查

【例】The company is reviewing its business travel policy.

该公司正在审查其商务旅行政策。

（3）（尤指为准备考试而）温习，复习

【例】Jonas helped me review for the test.

乔纳斯帮助我复习备考。

designate   v. & a.

1. 作动词

（1）命名；指定，认定

【例】This area has been designated as a National Park.

本区已定为国家公园。

（2）选定，委任（某人任某职）

【例】The director is allowed to designate his/her successor.

主任获准选定自己的继任人。

（3）标明；标示

【例】The different types are designated by the letters A, B and C.

不同的类型分别用字母 A、B 和 C 标明。

2. 作形容词：（已受委派）尚未上任的；（已当选）尚未就职的

【例】an interview with the director designate

与未到任主任的面谈

Too many characters of this sort is bad: at some point, team members will expend more effort competing for recognition than getting actual work done.

这类角色太多是不好的：到了某个阶段，团队成员将花费更多精力来争取认可，而不是完成实际工作。

a handful of

1. 少数人/物

【例】Only a handful of people came.

只有少数几个人来了。

2. 一把

【例】a handful of rice一把米

But because these personality types are prepared to invest more time communicating with their managers, the presence of a handful of them ensures that a team does not become invisible to the bosses. A few suck-ups can be good for everyone.

但由于这类性格的人准备好要投入更多时间与经理沟通，所以这一少部分人的存在确保了整个团队不会在老板眼中隐形。有几个马屁精对每个人都有好处。

a handful of

1. 少数人/物

【例】Only a handful of people came.

只有少数几个人来了。

2. 一把

【例】a handful of rice一把米

What of traits that workers find most irritating about themselves, the things that may be holding them back?

员工最恼火自己的什么特点？可能阻碍他们前进的是什么？

hold back

1. 拦阻；阻挡

【例】The police were unable to hold back the crowd.

警察阻拦不住人群。

2. 不透露（情况）；隐瞒

【例】I think he's holding something back. I'm sure he knows more than he admits.

我认为他在隐瞒一些情况。我相信他比他承认的了解得多。

3. 抑制，控制（感情等）

【例】He bravely held back his tears.

他勇敢地没让眼泪流出来。

Impostor syndrome, the belief some people have that they do not deserve to be in positions of influence, is usually thought of as being bad for individuals and organisations alike. But it can have an upside.

冒名顶替者综合症，即一些人认为自己不配担任有影响力的职位，人们通常认为这种心态对个人和组织都不利。但它也有积极的一面。

hold back

1. 拦阻；阻挡

【例】The police were unable to hold back the crowd.

警察阻拦不住人群。

2. 不透露（情况）；隐瞒

【例】I think he's holding something back. I'm sure he knows more than he admits.

我认为他在隐瞒一些情况。我相信他比他承认的了解得多。

3. 抑制，控制（感情等）

【例】He bravely held back his tears.

他勇敢地没让眼泪流出来。

Research**** by**** Basima**** Tewfik**** of**** the MIT Sloan School**** of**** Management**** found that**** people**** who worry about being an**** impostor**** are regarded**** by**** others**** as**** having**** better**** interpersonal skills**** than**** those who are untroubled**** by**** self****-doubt.****

麻省理工学院斯隆管理学院的巴西玛·图菲克的研究发现，在其他人看来，担心成为冒名顶替者的人比那些不为自我怀疑所困扰的人拥有更好的人际交往技巧。

It may be that a concern about lacking competence leads people to compensate by developing stronger relationships with others. In a world that increasingly prizes collaboration and soft skills, that is not to be sniffed at.

也许，因为担忧能力不足，人们会通过与他人建立更牢固的关系来进行补偿。在一个越来越重视合作和软技能的世界里，这一点不容忽视。

competence   n.

1. 能力，胜任

【例】I'm afraid the work is beyond his competence.

恐怕他不能胜任这个工作。

2. （法庭、机构或人的）权限，管辖权

【例】The judge has to act within the competence of the court.

法官必须在法庭的权限范围内行使权力。

3. 技能；本领

【例】The syllabus lists the knowledge and competences required at this level.教学大纲列出了这一级水平要求掌握的知识和技能。

not to be sniffed /sneezed at 值得认真对待；不可轻视

【例】In those days, $20 was not a sum to be sniffed at.

那时候，20 美元可不能不当回事。

【拓展】sniff  v. & n.

1. 作动词

（1）抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）

【例】We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing.

我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。

（2）（吸着气）嗅，闻

【例】sniffing the fresh morning air

吸着早晨的新鲜空气

（3）抱怨；不以为然地说

【例】‘Is that all?’ she sniffed.

“就那些？”她不屑地说道。

2. 作名词

（1）嗅；闻

【例】She took a deep sniff of the perfume.

她使劲闻了闻香水。

（2）少许；一丝迹象

【例】He got us into this mess, and then left at the first sniff of trouble!

他给我们惹了这样的麻烦，然后一看情况不妙就溜之大吉了！

Weaknesses can turn into advantages in other ways, too. The idealised entrepreneur may drip with confidence and charisma, for example.

弱点也可以在其他方面转化为优势。例如，理想化的企业家可能洋溢着自信和魅力。

drip   v. & n.

1. 作动词

（1）滴下，滴水

【例】Water was dripping down the walls.

水从墙上滴落下来。

（2）含有；充满

【例】The trees were dripping with fruit.

树上挂满了果子。

2. 作名词

（1）滴落；滴水声

【例】the steady drip of water from the tap

水龙头不间断的滴水

（2）（静脉）滴注，输液

【例】She's been put on a drip.

她一直在输液。

（3）怯懦讨厌的人；愚蠢胆怯的人

【例】Don't be such a drip—come and join in the fun!

别犯傻了，过来一起玩吧！

mould   n. & v.

1. 作名词

（1）模具；铸模

【例】Pour the chocolate into a heart-shaped mould.

将巧克力倒入心形模子。

（2）个性，风格

【例】She doesn’t fit into the traditional mould of an academic.

她不像一个传统的学者。

（3）霉；霉菌

【例】There's mould on the cheese.

干酪发霉了。

2. 作动词

（1）（用模具）浇铸，塑造

【例】First, mould the clay into the desired shape.

首先，将陶土做成需要的形状。

（2）对…影响重大；将…塑造成

【例】The experience had moulded and coloured her whole life.

这次经历影响了她的一生。

（3）（使）紧贴于，吻合

【例】The fabric moulds to the body.

这种织物很贴身。

But not everyone fits that mould. In a recent study, Lauren Howe and Jochen Menges of the University of Zurich asked participants in an investment game who had been asked about their own flaws to allocate funds to startups.

但并非每个人都是这种性格。在最近的一项研究中，苏黎世大学的劳伦·霍韦和约亨·门格斯要求一项投资游戏的参与者为初创企业分配资金，这些参与者被问及自己有什么缺点。

drip   v. & n.

1. 作动词

（1）滴下，滴水

【例】Water was dripping down the walls.

水从墙上滴落下来。

（2）含有；充满

【例】The trees were dripping with fruit.

树上挂满了果子。

2. 作名词

（1）滴落；滴水声

【例】the steady drip of water from the tap

水龙头不间断的滴水

（2）（静脉）滴注，输液

【例】She's been put on a drip.

她一直在输液。

（3）怯懦讨厌的人；愚蠢胆怯的人

【例】Don't be such a drip—come and join in the fun!

别犯傻了，过来一起玩吧！

mould   n. & v.

1. 作名词

（1）模具；铸模

【例】Pour the chocolate into a heart-shaped mould.

将巧克力倒入心形模子。

（2）个性，风格

【例】She doesn’t fit into the traditional mould of an academic.

她不像一个传统的学者。

（3）霉；霉菌

【例】There's mould on the cheese.

干酪发霉了。

2. 作动词

（1）（用模具）浇铸，塑造

【例】First, mould the clay into the desired shape.

首先，将陶土做成需要的形状。

（2）对…影响重大；将…塑造成

【例】The experience had moulded and coloured her whole life.

这次经历影响了她的一生。

（3）（使）紧贴于，吻合

【例】The fabric moulds to the body.

这种织物很贴身。

They found that entrepreneurs who reveal a personal shortcoming, such as indecisiveness or insecurity, are more likely to attract funding from investors who share these same characteristics.

他们发现，展露出优柔寡断或缺乏安全感等个人缺点的创业者，更有可能从具有相同特点的投资者那里获得资金。

attach   v.

1. 把…固定，把…附（在…上）

【例】I attach a copy of my notes for your information.

我附上笔记一份供你参考。

2. 认为有重要性（或意义、价值、分量等）

【例】I attach great importance to this research.

我认为这项研究十分重要。

3. （使）与…有联系；与…有关联

【例】This does not attach any blame to you.

这事你一点责任也没有。

Some weaknesses are not to be admitted: stupidity, say, or narcolepsy. But flaws can sometimes help people get ahead, not hinder them.

有些弱点是不能承认的：比如愚蠢或嗜睡症。但缺点有时可以帮助人们取得进展，而不是阻碍他们。

attach   v.

1. 把…固定，把…附（在…上）

【例】I attach a copy of my notes for your information.

我附上笔记一份供你参考。

2. 认为有重要性（或意义、价值、分量等）

【例】I attach great importance to this research.

我认为这项研究十分重要。

3. （使）与…有联系；与…有关联

【例】This does not attach any blame to you.

这事你一点责任也没有。

The problem with silver linings is that they are attached to clouds. You are still being interrupted all the time. You are still surrounded by annoying colleagues. Impostor syndrome still causes you unnecessary anxiety. Your weaknesses are still weaknesses. But there are bright sides to most things in office life, and they go beyond the payslip.

一线光亮的问题在于它们附着在乌云之上。你仍然总是被人打断。你仍然被讨厌的同事包围。冒名顶替者综合症仍然给你带来不必要的焦虑。你的弱点仍然是弱点。但办公室生活中的大多数事情都有光明的一面，而且它们并不局限于工资条。

attach   v.

1. 把…固定，把…附（在…上）

【例】I attach a copy of my notes for your information.

我附上笔记一份供你参考。

2. 认为有重要性（或意义、价值、分量等）

【例】I attach great importance to this research.

我认为这项研究十分重要。

3. （使）与…有联系；与…有关联

【例】This does not attach any blame to you.

这事你一点责任也没有。

课后练习

• The positive effect of upward influencers is that ____.

  A. they can improve the performance of the team

  B. they can motivate colleagues to be competitive

  C. they can facilitate communication within the team

  D. they can help attract the attention of the supervisor

• What is impostor syndrome?

  A. People believe that they are less competent than others think.

  B. People believe that they cannot have any influence on others.

  C. People often have doubts about other people’s capabilities.

  D. People find it difficult to accept criticisms about themselves.

• The study by Lauren Howe and Jochen Menges found that ____.

  A. weaknesses can encourage people to improve themselves

  B. investors may favor entrepreneurs who share their weaknesses

  C. people are more willing to help those who have weaknesses

  D. people think highly of those who are honest about their weaknesses

• The author’s advice on office life is that ____.

  A. people should try to eliminate the irritations

  B. people should overcome the hardships

  C. people should look at the positive side

  D. people should find a more satisfying job