EZCNN 易英网

Trouble in the Workplace: The Art of Dealing with Difficult Coworkers 他不难相处，他是我同事

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

People can choose their friends but usually not their colleagues. Most working relationships are not problematic and they often develop into long-term contacts and friendships. But when colleagues don’t get along, and one of those coworkers might include yourself, steps must be taken to improve the situation, or negativity will pervade the workplace.

人们可以选择朋友，但通常不能选择同事。大多数的工作关系没有太大的问题，而这层关系也常演变成长期的相互联络及友谊。但当同事间相处不来，而你可能就是其中一个与人相处不来的同事时，就必须采取一些行动来改善情况，否则工作环境就会变得很糟。

When you are responsible for dealing with a difficult coworker, handle the situation with kid gloves. The goal is to solve the problem, not make it worse, so you need to think about what to say before you face a problematic colleague. Try jotting down three to five main points to address so you’ll stay focused, and the uncomfortable discussion will take less time and be less stressful.

当你必须应付不好相处的同事时，要好好小心处理。目标是要解决问题，而不是让情况更糟，所以你必须在面对对方之前先想好要说些什么。试着简单写下三到五个要说明的重点，如此一来你就能抓到谈话的重点，况且，这种令人不自在的谈话会花较少的时间，也给人较小的压力。

When speaking with a difficult coworker, avoid laying blame. Choose phrases that aren’t personally accusatory like, “You need to finish this today.” Instead, say something like, “This needs to be finished today.” Also, choose your words wisely. Tempers flare upon hearing emotionallyloaded words and phrases like “rude,” “you never,” “wrong,” and “you don’t care.” Those words trigger anger, and anger shuts down useful communication. And if you start to get hot under the collar, never raise your voice!

与难相处的同事说话时，避免用指责性的言语。不要选择一些像「你今天必须完成」这样带有人身指责的词句。而是说像「这个必须在今天完成」这样词句。同时也要谨慎用字。人们听到像「粗鲁」、「你从来不……」、「不对」和「你才不在乎」这类带着情绪字眼的词句时，火气就上来了。那些字眼会引发怒火，进而关闭有效沟通的大门。如果你开始有点儿火了，说话时也千万别提高音量！

The name of the game is keeping everybody calm so an already tense situation isn’t exacerbated. Then, problems can be worked out.

这么做的目的是要让每个人冷静，好让已经很紧绷的气氛不会恶化下去。那么，问题就可以解决了！

Vocabulary

单词发音

get along  和睦相处 to be or continue to be on harmonious terms

negativity [͵nɛgəˋtɪvətɪ] n. 消极性；负面性

pervade [pɚˋved] v.〔感觉﹑想法或气味〕弥漫于﹐遍及﹐ 充满

handle something with kid gloves 以温和的或圆通的手段处理某事  handle with great care and sensitivity

jot down 草草记下; 匆匆记下 write briefly or hurriedly; write a short note of

lay the blame on someone or something 责怪某人或某事 to say that someone or something is responsible

accusatory [əˋkjuzə͵torɪ] adj. 责问的；非难的 containing or implying accusation

flare [flɛr] v. 突然发怒（或激动）

loaded [ˋlodɪd] adj. 充满…的 heavy with meaning or emotional import

hot under the collar 发怒的; 尴尬的  very angry

the name of the game 问题的关键, 事情的实质, 事物的本质 the most important part of an activity, or the quality that you most need for that activity

exacerbate [ɪgˋzæsɚ͵bet] v. 使恶化；使加重  to make (pain, disease, emotion, etc.) more intense; aggravate

Sentence of the Day

“Keep cool and you command everybody.” – Louis de Saint-Just

“保持冷静才能治理人民。” – 路易德圣余斯特

课文讲解

Anita and Barry used to work together. Now, Anita is a project manager at a new company. They are having lunch together.     阿妮塔和贝瑞以前曾共事，现在她在新公司当项目经理，他们正在一块用午餐。

B: So, how’s your new job? Tough being a manager?

嘿，新工作怎么样啊？经理不好当吧？

A: It’s pretty good, but I’m not looking forward to going back to work this afternoon.

还不错啦，但我今天下午不太想回去上班。

B: Why is that?

为什么？

A: I have to talk with one of my group leaders. He has great ideas, but he’s always argumentative with everyone.

我必须跟我们里面一个小组组长谈谈。他是有很棒的想法，但总是爱与每个人争辩。

B: That’s too bad. You know, you should talk to him face-to-face about this.

真糟糕。你知道，你应该和他当面谈这件事。

A: Oh, definitely. Sending an e-mail or memo would be much easier, but it wouldn’t solve anything.

噢，一定要的。虽然寄电子邮件或写小纸条会比较简单，但却于事无补。

B: Do you know what you’ll say to him?

你知道要跟他说什么吗？

A: I’ll start by thanking him for his great ideas. You know – a compliment.

开始我会先谢谢他给的那些好点子。你知道的，先赞美一下。

B: Try using the word “professional” when you tell him how much you appreciate his work. That always butters them up.

当你要告诉他你对他的作品有了激赏时，试着用「专业」这个字。这话总是让人听了舒服。

A: I’ll even admit to him that some of his frustration might be my fault. I didn’t give him clear parameters for his project.

我甚至会跟他说他有些挫折可能是我造成的。我没有对关于他负责的项目做清楚的说明。

B: Good idea, but how will you get him to change his behavior?

好主意，那你要怎么让他改变行为呢？

A: That’s the most delicate part. I have some ideas, though, that might really help him work with the whole team better.

那是最棘手的部分了，不过我还是有些想法，可能真的有助于让他与整个团队合作。

B: That’s good. No one likes criticism just for criticism’s sake.

很好啊！没有人喜欢为批评而批评。

A: I won’t argue with you there. Enough shop talk. Let’s order lunch.

我倒不会与你争辩这句话。公事聊够啰，该点餐了。

B: Excellent! We don’t need to argue about that either. I’m starving.

太好了！我们也不必为点不点餐而争辩。我饿死了！

－by Nick Wheeler

Vocabulary

单词发音

look forward to 期待 to anticipate something with pleasure

argumentative [͵ɑrgjəˋmɛntətɪv] adj. 好争论的  fond of or given to argument; disputatious

compliment [ˋkɑmpləmənt] n. 赞美的话；恭维 an expression of praise, admiration, or congratulation

butter (someone) up 讨好..；奉承… to praise someone in order to get them to like you or do what you want

parameter [pəˋræmətɚ] n. 参数；限制因素；决定因素  one of a set of measurable factors, such as temperature and pressure, that define a system and determine its behavior and are varied in an experiment

delicate [ˋdɛləkət] adj. 需要小心处理的；微妙的 requiring tactful treatment

shop talk 谈论本行; 说句行话  talk about your business that only others in the same business can understand

Sentence of the Day

“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots.” – Frank A. Clark

“批评要像雨一般，应该轻至足以滋育一个人的成长，而不至于摧毁其根基。” – 法兰克克拉克