2023年经济学人 过于热爱工作的陷阱

过于热爱工作的陷阱

商业版块

Bartleby

巴托比专栏

The Fashion for Passion

热爱工作的风尚

The pitfalls² of loving your job a little too much

过于热爱工作的陷阱

Back in the dim and distant past, job candidates had interests or hobbies.

在遥远的过去，求职人有自己的兴趣或爱好。

Those interests could be introspective: reading a book was a perfectly³ acceptable way of spending your spare time.

这些兴趣可以是内省的：阅读是一种完全可以接受的消遣方式。

No longer.

如今可不行了。

Today you will probably be asked if you have a “personal passion project”, and the more exhausting your answer sounds, the better.

现在，你可能会被问到是否有“个人爱好项目”，你的回答听起来越累人越好。

Go white-water rafting, preferably with orphans⁴.

玩漂流，最好是和孤儿一起。

Help build motorway⁵ crossings for endangered animals.

帮濒危动物在高速公路修建安全通道。

If you must read, at least do so in the original.

如果非要阅读，至少该读原版书。

Passion is becoming a staple⁶ for workplace success.

热爱正在成为职场成功的主要因素。

A new piece of research from Jon Jachimowicz and Hannah Weisman of Harvard Business School includes an analysis of 200m job postings in America.

哈佛商学院的乔恩·杰希奥维茨和汉娜·魏斯曼的一项新研究对美国2亿条招聘信息进行了分析。

It finds that the number which explicitly⁷ mention “passion” rose over time, from 2% in 2007 to 16% in 2019.

研究发现，明确提到“热爱”的招聘信息数量随着时间的推移而增加，从2007年的2%上升到2019年的16%。

Career websites offer helpful advice on how to come across as passionate⁸ about deeply ordinary pursuits.

求职网站提供了一些有用的建议，教你如何给人留下非常热爱普通工作的印象。

Here is a suggestion from one site on how to talk to prospective⁹ employers about putting things into an oven.

以下是一家网站的建议，关于如何与潜在雇主谈论怎样将食物放进烤箱。

“I love the process of researching new recipes and testing them out.

"我喜欢研究新食谱并去尝试的过程。

I’ve been writing up my experiences with baking for the past three years…I’m very detail-oriented, and love the scientific aspects of baking.

过去三年里我一直都有记录烘焙经验…我非常注重细节，喜欢研究烘焙的科学原理。

However, I’m also a very social person, and use my baking as a chance to get together with friends and family.”

但我也是一个非常喜欢社交的人，利用烘焙这个契机常和朋友家人相聚。"

Do not say: “I just really like cake.”

不要说：“我就是真的很喜欢蛋糕。”

Once inside an organisation¹⁰, passion for the job also seems to be a good way to get ahead.

进入一个组织后，热爱工作似乎也是脱颖而出的好方法。

Another paper by Mr Jachimowicz, along with Ke Wang of Harvard Kennedy School and Erica Bailey of Columbia Business School, found that employees who were regarded as more passionate than their peers got more positive feedback as well as more promotion¹¹ and training opportunities.

杰希奥维茨与哈佛大学肯尼迪学院的王可(音译)、哥伦比亚商学院的艾丽卡·贝利共同撰写的另一篇论文发现，被认为比同侪更有激情的员工会得到更多的积极反馈，以及更多的晋升和培训机会。

Other research has found that workers who cry at work are more highly regarded if they attribute these displays of emotions to caring too much.

其他研究发现，在工作中哭泣的员工会得到更高的评价——如果这些情绪的表现是因为太过在乎工作。

On the surface the fashion for passion makes sense.

从表面上看，流行讲热爱是有道理的。

Better, surely, for an employee to be enthused than not.

员工热情一点总比不热情要好。

Most workers want to do a job they love; most companies want a workforce¹² that is committed and motivated.

大多数员工想做喜欢的工作，大多数公司想要尽心尽力、积极进取的员工。

The case for unbridled energy is particularly strong for certain types of companies.

对于某些类型的公司来说，想要精力无限的员工是格外合理的。

There is a reason why startups do not embrace the cult¹³ of the occasionally interested founder¹⁴.

初创公司不接受偶尔有兴趣的创始人不是没有原因。

But passion can also warp¹⁵ judgment¹⁶.

但热爱也会扭曲判断。

For firms, the obvious pitfall¹ is rewarding commitment over competence¹⁷.

对于公司来说，明显的陷阱是奖励投入而不是能力。

Just as that note-taking, detail-orientated baker¹⁸ could be churning out the world’s most disgusting profiteroles, the super-keen employee who volunteers for everything may not be that great at their job.

就像那个做笔记、注重细节的面包师可能会做出世界上最恶心的奶心巧克力酥球一样，一个超级热心的员工什么都愿意做，但可能工作能力并不出色。

The paper by Mr Jachimowicz, Mr Wang and Ms Bailey finds that passion may indeed be blinding managers to reality:

杰希奥维茨、王和贝利的这篇论文发现，激情可能确实让经理们看不清现实：

it finds that even when the performance of passionate employees is on the downward slope, they are still more likely to be given promotions¹⁹ than taciturn peers.

论文发现，即使充满激情的员工业绩下降，他们仍比沉默寡言的同事更有可能得到提拔。

Dangers also lurk²⁰ for employees.

对于员工来说也潜伏着危险。

Even if commitment is heartfelt, passion comes in different varieties, some better than others.

即使发自内心地想投入工作，热爱也有不同的表现形式，其中一些优于另一些。

Psychologists distinguish between harmonious²¹ passion, in which people engage in an activity because they genuinely enjoy it, and obsessive²² passion, a more compulsive behaviour in which people feel like they are not really in control of themselves.

心理学家区分了和谐性热爱和强迫性热爱，前者是指人们因为真正喜欢某项活动而参与其中，后者是一种更具强迫性的行为，人们感觉自己并不能真正控制自己。

One obvious pitfall stands out.

还有一个明显的陷阱很凸出。

There are only so many ways to communicate passion.

就是表达热爱的方式只有这么多。

Widening your eyes and nodding wildly: too weird²³.

睁大眼睛，疯狂点头：太奇怪了。

Jumping, whooping²⁴ and sweating: even weirder²⁵.

蹦蹦跳跳、欢呼尖叫、直冒热汗：更奇怪了。

Working ever longer hours, on the other hand, is a fairly simple way to show that your commitment is beyond question.

另一方面，延长工作时间是一种表明你毋庸置疑地投入工作的极简单方式。

Some evidence suggests that employers feel justified²⁶ in exploiting that fact.

一些证据表明，雇主会理直气壮地利用这一事实。

A survey by academics at Duke University, the University of Oregon and Oklahoma State University found that people thought it was more legitimate²⁷ to ask passionate workers than disengaged ones to work for no money and to miss time they were meant to be spending with their families.

杜克大学、俄勒冈大学和俄克拉荷马州立大学的学者的一项调查发现，人们认为让热爱工作的员工无偿工作、牺牲他们本应与家人共度的时光，比让对工作不上心的员工这样做更合理。

They are also more comfortable with the idea of asking passionate employees to do totally unrelated tasks.

他们让热爱工作的员工去做并非分内的任务也更不会觉得不好意思。

People apparently²⁸ believe that if you love your job, you will enjoy cleaning the office toilets more than people who are less enthused by it.

人们显然认为，如果你热爱自己的工作，你就会比那些不热爱工作的人更喜欢打扫办公室厕所。

It is great to feel passion for your job.

对工作充满热爱是很棒的。

But if you are up at 4 am for a meeting with Asia, constantly working on your holiday or have just been handed a bottle of bleach²⁹ and a mop by your boss, you are in the grip of something that is not entirely³⁰ healthy.

但如果你凌晨4点起床参加亚洲那边的会议，在假期里不停加班，或者老板递给你一瓶漂白剂和一个拖把，那么你就被某种不完全健康的东西控制住了。

1 pitfall   

n.隐患，易犯的错误；陷阱，圈套

参考例句：

• The wolf was caught in a pitfall.那只狼是利用陷阱捉到的。
• The biggest potential pitfall may not be technical but budgetary.最大的潜在陷阱可能不是技术问题，而是预算。

2 pitfalls   

（捕猎野兽用的）陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 )； 意想不到的困难，易犯的错误

参考例句：

• the potential pitfalls of buying a house 购买房屋可能遇到的圈套
• Several pitfalls remain in the way of an agreement. 在达成协议的进程中还有几个隐藏的困难。

3 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

4 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

5 motorway   

n.高速公路，快车道

参考例句：

• Our car had a breakdown on the motorway.我们的汽车在高速公路上抛锚了。
• A maniac driver sped 35 miles along the wrong side of a motorway at 110 mph.一个疯狂的司机以每小时110英里的速度在高速公路上逆行飙车35英里。

6 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

7 explicitly   

ad.明确地，显然地

参考例句：

• The plan does not explicitly endorse the private ownership of land. 该计划没有明确地支持土地私有制。
• SARA amended section 113 to provide explicitly for a right to contribution. 《最高基金修正与再授权法案》修正了第123条，清楚地规定了分配权。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

8 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

9 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

10 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

11 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

12 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

13 cult   

n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜

参考例句：

• Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。
• The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。

14 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

15 warp   

vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见

参考例句：

• The damp wood began to warp.这块潮湿的木材有些翘曲了。
• A steel girder may warp in a fire.钢梁遇火会变弯。

16 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

17 competence   

n.能力，胜任，称职

参考例句：

• This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
• These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。

18 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

19 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。

20 lurk   

n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏

参考例句：

• Dangers lurk in the path of wilderness.在这条荒野的小路上隐伏着危险。
• He thought he saw someone lurking above the chamber during the address.他觉得自己看见有人在演讲时潜藏在会议厅顶上。

21 harmonious   

adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的

参考例句：

• Their harmonious relationship resulted in part from their similar goals.他们关系融洽的部分原因是他们有着相似的目标。
• The room was painted in harmonious colors.房间油漆得色彩调和。

22 obsessive   

adj. 着迷的, 强迫性的, 分神的

参考例句：

• Some people are obsessive about cleanliness.有些人有洁癖。
• He's becoming more and more obsessive about punctuality.他对守时要求越来越过分了。

23 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

24 whooping   

发嗬嗬声的，发咳声的

参考例句：

• Whooping cough is very prevalent just now. 百日咳正在广泛流行。
• Have you had your child vaccinated against whooping cough? 你给你的孩子打过百日咳疫苗了吗？

25 weirder   

怪诞的( weird的比较级 )； 神秘而可怕的； 超然的； 古怪的

参考例句：

• Actually, things got a little weirder when the tow truck driver showed up. 事实上，在拖吊车司机出现后，事情的发展更加怪异。

26 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

27 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

28 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

29 bleach   

vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂

参考例句：

• These products don't bleach the hair.这些产品不会使头发变白。
• Did you bleach this tablecloth?你把这块桌布漂白了吗？

30 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。