Here are a few career-damaging statements to avoid.
下面有些可能对职业造成损害的话语要记得避免。
1. At 8 a.m. Monday morning, walking into the office
1. 周一早上8点,走进办公室
Don’t say: “Before you settle in, I need to talk to you about the presentation.”
不能这样说:“在你坐下来前,我想跟你谈谈会议展示的事情。”
Why it’s a problem: Is the presentation an actual fire that needs to be put out or just something that’s on your mind at that moment? People are still transitioning from the weekend. You may be catching someone unprepared, or she may have other critical deadlines that need her immediate attention.
问题出现在哪里:会议展示真的那么重要得马上讨论出方案吗,还是只是你当时心里有一些想法?人们还在周末假期调整过来。也许你发现有的同事没有做好准备,或者她有其他关键的最后时期事情需要她当即关注。
Say instead: “Hope you had a great weekend! Let me know when you have time today to talk about the presentation.”
应该这样说:“希望过了一个愉快的周末哦!请让我知道今天你何时有空能一起聊聊会议展示的事情。”
2. During a major meeting
2.重要会议的过程中
Don’t say: “I don’t have the numbers today because the intern didn’t give them to me.”
不能这样说:“今天我没拿到数据因为那个实习生没有把数据递交给我。”
Why it’s a problem: It doesn’t matter if the intern really did screw up—it looks like you’re throwing the blame on someone else. Which makes you seem like you’re not accountable, and it makes your colleagues wonder if they’ll be looking at the undercarriage of the bus next.
问题出现在哪里:实习生是否搞砸了并不重要——这样看起来像是你在把责任推卸到别人的身上。这样会让你看起来不可靠,还会让你的同事思考他们是否就会看到拖后腿的人了。
Say instead: “I don’t have the numbers right now, but I’m working with the intern to get them as soon as possible.”
应该这样说:“当前我的手头上没有数据,不过我正跟实习生沟通尽快拿到数据。”
3. Meeting your new boss
3.与老板会面
Don’t say: “I’m available anytime you need me. Here’s my home number, my personal email, my cell, and I’ll be on vacation next week, so here’s how you can reach me at the cabin.”
不能这样说:“只要你需要我,我随时都有空。这是我的家庭电话,我的个人电子邮箱地址,我的手机号码,并且下周我会度假,所以这里有小屋子的联系方式,你也可以找到我。”
Why it’s a problem: It seems like the right thing to do—to be helpful and available. But studies show that an “always on” mentality isn’t conducive to better productivity. Harvard Business School professor Leslie Perlow, in fact, asserts in her TED Talk that the practice can even ultimately damage an organization.
问题出现在哪:这看起来是一件正确的事情——既能提供帮助也能腾出时间。但有许多研究表明,那种‘随时待命’的心理状态无法有助于创造力的提升。同时实际上,哈佛商业学院的教授Leslie Perlow在TED演讲中声称这种实践方法实际上最终还会损害一家机构的利益。
Say instead: “Let’s figure out the best ways for us to communicate if we need to reach each other during an emergency.”
应该这样说:“我们来看看有什么好的方法能让我们在紧急情况下取得良好的沟通联系。”
4. During a review period
4.考核阶段
Don’t say: “Diversity is such a priority right now. You’ll have no problem getting promoted.”
不能这样说:“人与人之间的差异是当前优先考虑的因素。所以你被擢升是完全没有问题的。”
Why it’s a problem: You’re asserting that someone’s accomplishments are less important than their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion or other marker of identity.
问题出现在哪里:你在宣称着有的人的成就不如他们本身的种族,性别,性取向,宗教或其他身份的象征。
Say instead: “Do you want to go over any of your goals together before your official review? Last year I wished I’d prepared better.”
应该这么说:“你要不要在正式考核前首先过一遍你的目标呢?去年我希望我能准备得更好。”
5. During a work crisis that corresponds with a personal emergency
5.陷于与个人紧急状况同时发生的工作危机当中
Don’t say: “I know this project is a beast, but be grateful you don’t have kids. I was up all last night cleaning up vomit, and I’m on my way back there right now.”
不能这样说:“我知道这项任务非常重大,但你该庆幸你还没有小孩。昨晚我整晚没睡都在清理呕吐物,现在我就在回家的路上了。”
Why it’s a problem: This is insensitive on so many levels. For one, if someone is trying to conceive, or is unhappily child-free, then baby puke would actually be a triumph. It implies that non-parents don’t have anything going on outside of work. Finally, it makes it sound like you don’t like being a parent—and that’s awkward for everyone.
问题出现在哪里:这样会显示你在很多方面都表现得不够敏感。首先,如果对方正打算备孕,或者不愉快地没有孩子,然后宝宝的呕吐实际上是一件显示胜利的壮举呀。这会暗示非父母的人们在工作以外就没有任何事情发生了。最终,你这么说会让你看起来并不喜欢当家长,这样对于任何人来说都是尴尬的。
Say instead: “I’m so sorry I have to leave right now. I’ll be available again at 7:30, and I’ll call to check in. Please, keep me posted, and I’ll catch up as soon as I can.”
应该这样说:“对不起我现在必须离开了,7点30分的时候我能腾出时间然后再打电话回来报告。若有任何消息请通知我,我会尽快赶上进度的。”
6. When referring to colleagues
6.当提到同事的时候
Don’t say: “My boyfriend Pedro in IT just fixed my email, it’s working great now!”
不能这样说:“我的IT部门男朋友Pedro刚刚帮我解决了电子邮件的问题,现在运行得非常顺畅!”
Why it’s a problem: Of course it’s not a Don Draper–level offense: You, Pedro and everyone else knows that he’s not actually your boyfriend, but when you refer to him like that, you’re downgrading his professionalism, and your own.
问题出现在哪里:当然这不是唐·德雷柏级别的冒犯。你,Pedro还有其他人都知道他并不是你的男朋友,但当你这么称呼他的时候,你正在降低他的专业性,还有你自己的专业性。
Say instead: “Pedro did such an amazing job fixing my email that I’m letting his boss know he’s a rock star.”
应该这么说:“Pedro工作真出色,他把我的电子邮件问题解决了,我要告诉他的老板他真的很棒!”
7. In your farewell announcement on the last day on the job
7.离职前的最后宣告
Don’t say: “I’ll miss you all. Here’s how you can link up with me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and SnapChat!”
不能这样说:“我会想念你们的。这是我在各社交网站的联系方式,你们能随时找到我哦。”
Why it’s a problem: Chances are, you’ll run into people you know for the rest of your career if you’re in the same city or the same industry. Do you really want anyone you’ll encounter in a professional capacity to have an image of you half-naked taking a polar swim for charity?
问题出现在哪里:有可能出现这样的情况,如果你仍在同一城市或同一行业里继续工作,你会遇见职业生涯后半段的熟人。你真的希望你将遇见的任何专业人士人对你产生一种为了慈善不惜半裸游泳的印象吗?
Say instead: “I’ll miss you all. Please connect with me on LinkedIn so we can stay in touch.”
应该这么说:“我会想念你们的。我们通过领英就能保持联系了。”