Humour and charm are a surprisingly powerful combination as a means of ascent in life.
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 disarm 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; sycophancy and flat jokes do not weave the same spell.
The British feel that some light relief amid the drudgery is essential for existence to be tolerable. It seems to be a cornerstone of our psychology and culture. In London, to say someone has no sense of humour is to condemn them utterly. Many important meetings I attend start with a little friendly banter to break the ice, a ritual to remind us that we are all human-rather than simply robots of commerce.
I am sure foreigners must think our levity is baffling. My defence is that Brits subscribe to Horace's view: "A jest often decides matters of importance more effectively and happily than seriousness."
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 bullying and intimidation common in many workplaces.
But the 21st-century office can be a minefield for the amateur who enjoys a giggle. 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 organisation. 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. 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.
In these litigious, politically correct times, the perils 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 influential figures in the room. 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.
Some one once said: "Brains, integrity and force may be all very well, but what you need today is charm." 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. Perhaps it is their reputation, perhaps their smile, perhaps their brilliance with words-or possibly their rapt attention.
I am often struck how often young children utter the phrase "Look at me!" They want appreciation, and fundamentally not much changes, even when we are 50. Genuine approval from the boss can taste better than anything-even a pay rise.
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.
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.
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 graft at it far more than they admit.
領導靠幽默與魅力發(fā)跡
作為人生發(fā)跡的手段之一，幽默和魅力是一對效力驚人的組合。
我遇見過許多憑借風趣機智和好人緣白手起家的企業(yè)家。他們謙和自斂，讓我們生不起氣來。我們與他們相處愉快一一所以我們?yōu)槭裁床慌c他們做生意呢?當然，這里面必須講求技巧。一味溜頸拍馬，開一些干巴巴的玩笑，不會產生同樣的魔力。
英國人認為，人生在世，就得苦中作樂。這似乎是我們心理學和文化的一條基本原則。在倫敦，說一個人缺乏幽默感，等于是說他一無是處。我出席的許多重要會議，都以一些善意的玩笑開場，以此打破沉默。這種慣例提醒我們，我們都是凡人，而不完全是商業(yè)機器。
外國人肯定認為我們的輕浮舉止不可理喻。要讓我說，我們英國人是贊同賀拉斯的觀點：“遇到大事，比起一本正經的態(tài)度，開開玩笑固能夠更有效、也更開心地解決問題。”
幾年前，我的一位合伙人實行我所說的“歡笑管理”。他鼓舞和激勵士氣的方法，是營造充滿樂趣的工作氛圍，不同于許多工作場所常見的威逼和脅迫的氛圍。
然而，對于喜歡逗笑取樂的人來說，21世紀的職場可能會是個雷區(qū)。我最近聽到警告，說一個來自東歐的專業(yè)犯罪團伙會設下這樣的圈套：在一家機構安插一名漂亮迷人的女員工，再讓一名男同伙也混進去。兩人前后腳進入這家公司，他們的關系不為人所知。不久后，他就向那位美女發(fā)送了一堆黃色網絡笑話。于是她投訴遭到騷擾，并威脅要以性別歧視為由，告到讓人頭大的就業(yè)法庭。而一旦她透露出已聘請了專業(yè)法律顧問和公關代理，受害企業(yè)就會趕緊花錢了事。
在這種動輒法庭上見、政治上正確的時代，講低級笑話可能會相當危險。我最近出席了一個貿易會議舉辦的晚宴，席間一位頗有名氣的高管發(fā)表了演講。他講了許多低級趣味的笑話，有些還是取笑在座的顯要人物。演講后我們在閑聊時，我感覺到，他的那些話不會被很快忘記，這與婚禮上伴郎講話粗俗不合時宜一樣。
曾有人說：“擁有才智、誠實和力量固然不錯，但當今你需要的是魅力。” 這是一個名人的時代，即使在董事會也是如此。那些鼎鼎大名的人物一旦全力展現(xiàn)他們迷人的個性或者是名聲、或者是微笑、或者是口才，又或者是專注的神情，投入能夠抵御。
小孩子常常會說“看我的!”，對此我常常感到驚訝。他們想要得到贊賞。這一點在長大后基本上也不會改變，即使到了50歲。老板真心的稱贊比什么——甚至加薪，都更讓人覺得受用。
魅力和幽默感能夠后天培養(yǎng)嗎?努力練習肯定會有作用。羅納德·里根早年在演藝界干過，練得一身表演才能，后來才進入政界，成就了一番事業(yè)。
我曾經在一些笑星登臺前與他們坐在一起。最出色的笑星出場前幾乎都顯得若無其事，既沒有背臺詞，也沒有焦慮不安。他們表演的內容基本上都是事先背下來的，但卻顯得像是即興發(fā)揮。
杰出的企業(yè)領導能夠讓他的團隊既開心又賣力工作：他們自己會勤于工作。世界級的首席執(zhí)行官大多魅力非凡——這實際上是吸引力和風趣機智的迷人組合。另外，請相信我，他們花費在這上面的心力，遠遠超過他們所承認的。
句型講解：
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.
本句是一個復合句，主句是由and連接的兩個并列的句子。第一個句子中， and連接兩個并列的謂語， involving sexual discrimination現(xiàn)在分詞短語作后置定語，修飾employment tribunal.第二個句子中，once引導時間狀語從句，其中that引導賓語從句，作reveal的賓語。
語法重點：并列結構，分詞短語作定語，時間狀語從句，賓語從句
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.
本句是一個復合句。第一個as引導方式狀語從句，意為"正如"。第二個as引導時間狀語從句。that引導賓語從句，作sense的賓語。
語法重點：方式狀語從句，時間狀語從句，賓語從句
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.
本句是一個復合句。主句是由and連接的兩個并列的句子This is...and... legendary characters. When引導時間狀語從句。
語法重點：時間狀語從句
