四六级必读美文系列:领导靠幽默与魅力发迹

 　　Humour and charm are a surprisingly powerful combination as a means of ascent¹ in life.

　　作为人生发迹的手段之一，幽默和魅力是一对效力惊人的组合。

　　I have met a number of entrepreneurs who have built fortunes on the back of their wit and general popularity -and not much else. They disarm² us with self-deprecation, we enjoy their company-so why wouldn't we want to do business with them? Of course, it all has to be done well, sycophancy³ and flat jokes do not weave the same spell.

　　我遇见过许多凭借风趣机智和好人缘白手起家的企业家。他们谦和自敛，让我们生不起气来。我们与他们相处愉快一一所以我们为什么不与他们做生意呢?当然，这里面必须讲求技巧。一味溜颈拍马，开一些干巴巴的玩笑，不会产生同样的魔力。

　　The British feel that some light relief amid the drudgery⁴ is essential for existence to be tolerable. It seems to be a cornerstone of our psychology⁵ and culture. In London, to say someone has no sense of humour is to condemn⁶ them utterly⁷. Many important meetings I attend start with a little friendly banter⁸ to break the ice, a ritual to remind us that we are all human-rather than simply robots of commerce.

　　英国人认为，人生在世，就得苦中作乐。这似乎是我们心理学和文化的一条基本原则。在伦敦，说一个人缺乏幽默感，等于是说他一无是处。我出席的许多重要会议，都以一些善意的玩笑开场，以此打破沉默。这种惯例提醒我们，我们都是凡人，而不完全是商业机器。

　　I am sure foreigners must think our levity⁹ is baffling. My defence is that Brits subscribe¹⁰ to Horace's view: "A jest often decides matters of importance more effectively and happily than seriousness."

　　外国人肯定认为我们的轻浮举止不可理喻。要让我说，我们英国人是赞同贺拉斯的观点：“遇到大事，比起一本正经的态度，开开玩笑固能够更有效、也更开心地解决问题。”

　　Some years ago, a partner of mine practised what I called "management by laughter". He motivated and inspired by making the atmosphere at work fun, rather than the bullying¹¹ and intimidation¹² common in many workplaces.

　　几年前，我的一位合伙人实行我所说的“欢笑管理”。他鼓舞和激励士气的方法，是营造充满乐趣的工作氛围，不同于许多工作场所常见的威逼和胁迫的氛围。

　　But the 21st-century office can be a minefield for the amateur who enjoys a giggle¹³. I was recently warned about a trap being sprung by a professional gang from eastern Europe. They plant an attractive female staff member in an organisation¹⁴. At roughly the same time, a male co-conspirator also gets a job, the connection between them is unknown to the employer. After a little while, he sends a series of highly suggestive internet jokes to the pretty female.(1) She complains of harassment¹⁵ and threatens to bring an embarrassing employment tribunal involving sexual discrimination-and, once she reveals that she has hired expert legal advisers¹⁶ and PR agents, the victim business settles quickly.

　　然而，对于喜欢逗笑取乐的人来说，21世纪的职场可能会是个雷区。我最近听到警告，说一个来自东欧的专业犯罪团伙会设下这样的圈套：在一家机构安插一名漂亮迷人的女员工，再让一名男同伙也混进去。两人前后脚进入这家公司，他们的关系不为人所知。不久后，他就向那位美女发送了一堆黄色网络笑话。（1）于是她投诉遭到骚扰，并威胁要以性别歧视为由，告到让人头大的就业法庭。而一旦她透露出已聘请了专业法律顾问和公关代理，受害企业就会赶紧花钱了事。

　　In these litigious, politically correct times, the perils¹⁷ of making cheap gags can be considerable. Recently, I attended a dinner at a trade conference. The speaker was a well- known executive who told a number of jokes in poor taste, some at the expense of influential¹⁸ figures in the room. (2) Just as a vulgar best man's speech at a wedding can strike the wrong note, so I sensed as we chatted after the speech that the jibes¹⁹ would not be swiftly forgotten.

　　在这种动辄法庭上见、政治上正确的时代，讲低级笑话可能会相当危险。我最近出席了一个贸易会议举办的晚宴，席间一位颇有名气的高管发表了演讲。他讲了许多低级趣味的笑话，有些还是取笑在座的显要人物。（2）演讲后我们在闲聊时，我感觉到，他的那些话不会被很快忘记，这与婚礼上伴郎讲话粗俗不合时宜一样。

　　Some one once said: "Brains, integrity and force may be all very well, but what you need today is charm." (3) This is the age of celebrity²⁰, even in the boardroom, and none of us is impervious²¹ to the presence of those legendary²² characters when they switch on the full blast of their glittering personality. Perhaps it is their reputation, perhaps their smile, perhaps their brilliance²³ with words-or possibly their rapt attention.

　　曾有人说：“拥有才智、诚实和力量固然不错，但当今你需要的是魅力。” （3）这是一个名人的时代，即使在董事会也是如此。那些鼎鼎大名的人物一旦全力展现他们迷人的个性或者是名声、或者是微笑、或者是口才，又或者是专注的神情，投入能够抵御。

　　I am often struck how often young children utter the phrase "Look at me!" They want appreciation²⁴, and fundamentally not much changes, even when we are 50. Genuine approval from the boss can taste better than anything-even a pay rise.

　　小孩子常常会说“看我的！”，对此我常常感到惊讶。他们想要得到赞赏。这一点在长大后基本上也不会改变，即使到了50岁。老板真心的称赞比什么——甚至加薪，都更让人觉得受用。

　　Are charm and a sense of humour acquired traits? They certainly improve with effort and practice. Ronald Reagan used his years in showbiz to hone his performance skills before succeeding in politics.

　　魅力和幽默感能够后天培养吗?努力练习肯定会有作用。罗纳德·里根早年在演艺界干过，练得一身表演才能，后来才进入政界，成就了一番事业。

　　I have sat with stand-up comics before they go on stage. The most brilliant appear almost nonchalant, rather than rehearsed or anxious, and their acts are mostly learnt word-perfect yet appear spontaneous.

　　我曾经在一些笑星登台前与他们坐在一起。最出色的笑星出场前几乎都显得若无其事，既没有背台词，也没有焦虑不安。他们表演的内容基本上都是事先背下来的，但却显得像是即兴发挥。

　　So it is with outstanding business leaders who persuade their teams to laugh and try harder: they apply themselves assiduously to the task. Most world-class chief executives possess charisma-really a captivating blend of charm and wit. And, believe me, they graft²⁵ at it far more than they admit.

　　杰出的企业领导能够让他的团队既开心又卖力工作：他们自己会勤于工作。世界级的首席执行官大多魅力非凡——这实际上是吸引力和风趣机智的迷人组合。另外，请相信我，他们花费在这上面的心力，远远超过他们所承认的。

　　重点解析 Key Phrases/Words

　　1. ascent n. 上升，登高，上坡

　　2. on the back of 紧跟着，在…之外

　　3. disarm v.缓和，解除（武装），使...息怒

　　4. sycophancy n. 拍马屁，奉承，谄媚

　　5. weave the same spell 产生同样的魔力

　　6. cornerstone n. 奠基石，基础，最重要部份

　　7. minefield n. 雷区，充满隐伏危险的事物

　　8. litigious adj. 好打官司的，好争论的

　　9. impervious adj. 不可渗透的，无动于衷的，不受影响的

　　10. glittering n/v. 灿烂的光辉，闪烁，（表面的）诱惑力，吸引力

　　11. nonchalant adj. 漠不关心的，冷淡的，漫不经心的

　　12. assiduously adv. 勤勉地，恳切地，孜孜不倦

　　【句子解析】

　　1. She complains of harassment and threatens to bring an embarrassing employment tribunal involving sexual discrimination-and, once she reveals that she has hired expert legal advisers and PR agents, the victim business settles quickly.

　　本句是一个复合句，主句是由and连接的两个并列的句子。第一个句子中， and连接两个并列的谓语， involving sexual discrimination现在分词短语作后置定语，修饰employment tribunal.第二个句子中，once引导时间状语从句，其中that引导宾语从句，作reveal的宾语。

　　语法重点：并列结构，分词短语作定语，时间状语从句，宾语从句

　　2. Just as a vulgar best man's speech at a wedding can strike the wrong note, so I sensed as we chatted after the speech that the jibes would not be swiftly forgotten.

　　本句是一个复合句。第一个as引导方式状语从句，意为"正如"。第二个as引导时间状语从句。that引导宾语从句，作sense的宾语。

　　语法重点：方式状语从句，时间状语从句，宾语从句

　　3. This is the age of celebrity, even in the boardroom. and none of us is impervious to the presence of those legendary characters when they switch on the full blast of their glittering personality.

　　本句是一个复合句。主句是由and连接的两个并列的句子This is...and... legendary characters. When引导时间状语从句。

　　语法重点：时间状语从句

1 ascent   

n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高

参考例句：

• His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
• Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮，电梯开始缓慢上升。

2 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

3 sycophancy   

n.拍马屁，奉承，谄媚；吮痈舐痔

参考例句：

• He was free from all sycophancy or obsequiousness in the face of the reactionary ruling class. 他在反动统治阶级面前没有丝毫的奴颜与媚骨。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Sycophancy was the device of the least trustworthy. 阿谀奉承之辈最不可靠。 来自辞典例句

4 drudgery   

n.苦工，重活，单调乏味的工作

参考例句：

• People want to get away from the drudgery of their everyday lives.人们想摆脱日常生活中单调乏味的工作。
• He spent his life in pointlessly tiresome drudgery.他的一生都在做毫无意义的烦人的苦差事。

5 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

6 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

7 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

8 banter   

n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑

参考例句：

• The actress exchanged banter with reporters.女演员与记者相互开玩笑。
• She engages in friendly banter with her customers.她常和顾客逗乐。

9 levity   

n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变

参考例句：

• His remarks injected a note of levity into the proceedings.他的话将一丝轻率带入了议事过程中。
• At the time,Arnold had disapproved of such levity.那时候的阿诺德对这种轻浮行为很看不惯。

10 subscribe   

vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助

参考例句：

• I heartily subscribe to that sentiment.我十分赞同那个观点。
• The magazine is trying to get more readers to subscribe.该杂志正大力发展新订户。

11 bullying   

v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈

参考例句：

• Many cases of bullying go unreported . 很多恐吓案件都没有人告发。
• All cases of bullying will be severely dealt with. 所有以大欺小的情况都将受到严肃处理。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

13 giggle   

n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说

参考例句：

• Both girls began to giggle.两个女孩都咯咯地笑了起来。
• All that giggle and whisper is too much for me.我受不了那些咯咯的笑声和交头接耳的样子。

14 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。

15 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

16 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

17 perils   

极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境）

参考例句：

• The commander bade his men be undaunted in the face of perils. 指挥员命令他的战士要临危不惧。
• With how many more perils and disasters would he load himself? 他还要再冒多少风险和遭受多少灾难？

18 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

19 jibes   

n.与…一致( jibe的名词复数 )；（与…）相符；相匹配v.与…一致( jibe的第三人称单数 )；（与…）相符；相匹配

参考例句：

• He made several cheap jibes at his opponent during the interview. 在采访中他好几次对他的对手粗俗地加以嘲讽。
• The report jibes with the facts. 报告与事实相符。 来自辞典例句

20 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

21 impervious   

adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的

参考例句：

• He was completely impervious to criticism.他对批评毫不在乎。
• This material is impervious to gases and liquids.气体和液体都透不过这种物质。

22 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

23 brilliance   

n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智

参考例句：

• I was totally amazed by the brilliance of her paintings.她的绘画才能令我惊歎不已。
• The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。

24 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

25 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。