Lesson 21
Should People Be Promoted according to Ability?
Text
Flattering the Boss Gets You Everywhere
In the world of work, flattery will get you everywhere.
Employees who flatter their bosses tend to receive better
evaluations and move more easily up the ladder-whether they deserve to or not--said Gerald Ferris, management professor at Texas A and M University.
"Based on what we have found, it looks to be the case that political skills are highly reinforced out there in the work place. It is the politically that are more often promoted," Ferris said in an interview.
His conclusions are based on surveys of employees and takeri as part of his research into political behaviour in the office.
"People tend to believe that flattery is just too to be effective, but we have found that is not necessarily true. We have found a strong between this type of behaviour and good evaluations," Ferris said.
The reasons that flattery works are many, Ferris said, but most have to do either with the boss's , or insecurity, or both.
Some supervisors enjoy having their boosted by employees, while others simply need the reinforcement of consent, he said.
"What we have found is that often bosses are new or unsure of themselves and need a lot of social reinforcement for their decisions. They might look at flattery as a sign that they are right, " Ferris said.
The reasons employees flatter bosses vary, too, Ferris said. Ambition - the desire to move up the corporate ladder --is often behind the compiiments, he said.
Also, many workers use flattery to obscure their laziness or .
"We did find a big gap between some of the people doing this manipulation and those that did not. Many of these people (fla.ttering the boss) were not the high performers. They were doing it to cover up their shortcomings," he said.
But if flatterers are not always top workers, they frequently are what social scientists call "high self-monitors", Ferris said.
"Those are people who are highly to and aware of their surroundings and know what to do to get a response," he said.
Fellow employees are not blind to what their colleagues are doing, Ferr'ss said. But, while they may , they usually do not tell the boss for fear of appearing jealous, he said.
Flattery works best when the employee is saying something he or she really means, Ferris said. But sincere or not, it should be done in moderation.
"If you it or if you are not sincere and the boss catches on, it can mean trouble, " he said. "You have to be subtle and not take it too far. "
One way employees can avoid appearing too flattering is to occasionally disagree with the boss on points, he said. In that way, the employee avoids being viewed as a "yes-man".
II. Read
Read the following passages. Underline the important viewpoints while reading.
1. People Should Be Rewarded according to Ability,
Not according to Age and Experienc
Young men and women today are finding it more and more necessary to protest against what is known as the "Establishment": that is, the people who power in our society. Clashes with the authorities are reported almost daily in the press. The tension that exists between old and young could certainly be if some of the most obvious causes were removed. In particular, the Establishment should adopt different attitudes to work and the rewards it brings. Today's young people are ambitious.
Many are equipped with a good education and are understandably impatient to succeed as quickly as possible. They want to be able to have their share of the good things in life while they are still young enough to enjoy them. The Establishment, however, has traditionaly believed that people should be rewarded according to iheir age and experience. Ability counts for less. As the Establishment controls the purse-strings, its views are imposed on society. Employers pay the smallest sum consistent with keeping you in a job. You join the and take your place in the queue. If you are young, you go to the very end of the queue and stay there no matter how brilliant you are.
What you know is much less important than whom you know and how old you are. If you are able, youf abilities will be acknowledged and rewarded in due course, that is, after twentj?or thirty years have passed. By that time you will be considered old enough to join the Establishment and you will be expected to adopt its ideals. God help you if you don't.
There seems to be a gigantic against young people. While on the one hand society provides them with better educational facilities, on the other it does its best to exclude them from the jobs that really matter. There are exceptions, of course. Some young people do manage to break through the barrier despite the , but the great majority have to wait patiently for years before they can really give full to their abilities. This means that, in most fields, the views of young people are never heard because there is no one to represent them. All important decisions about how society is to be run are made by people who are too old to remember what it was like to be young.
is the cause of a great deal of bitterness. The young resent the old because they feel deprived of the good things life has to offer. The old resent the young because they are afraid of losing what they have. A man of fifty or so might say, "Why should a young straight out of school earn more than I do?" But if the young rascal is more able, more , harder-working than his critic, why shoutdn't he? Employers should recognize ability and reward it justly. This would remove one of the biggest causes of between old and young and ultimatley it would lead to a better society.
2. Officialdom
Ancient Chinese reformers advocated selecting aiI talented people to be officiais regardiess of their #amily backgrounds. This practice is stiil significant, for it opposed appointing people by favouritism.
But it is for us to think that the talented can only become officials, otherwise they are .
In the course of the current reform, China needs talented personnel in all trades. It is that talented personnei bring their ability into full play by becoming leaders.
But the point is who can be considered talented? Some see the of senior professional titles are talented: some think of those who have college diplomas as taltented; some say that they are those who have made inventions or outstanding contributions to society.
There would not be enough if all of these people were to become officials.
It is unnecessary for all the talented to elbow their way into officialdom. They can strive to become experts in philosophy, science, literatore, art, history and education. There is never a limit to the number of experts in these fields.
Albert Einstein was once invited by Israei to become its president. It was eonsidered a matter of course for Einstein to accept the invitation. But Einstein refused it bluntly and continued his physics study.
I do not mean that talented people should not become officials at aII. But what I want to is that different people have different strengths, and that not everyone is capable of becoming an official. If people without leadership capacity are chosen as officials, they can only things.
Before Hou Yuzhu and Zheng Meizhu, two af the Chinese National Women's Volleyball Team, , they were asked by reporters if the government would assign them jobs in a leading body, just as it had done for some of their former teammates.
Hou and Zheng, who shared the credit for the team becoming world champions, responded that they did not want to become officials, and that they wanted to study the knowledge and skills needed in society to keep of its development.
Their decision may be of some help to us.
3. You Can Get Promoted Half a Grade if You Are
Willing to Say:"Yes Sir, No Sir!"
An unhappy victim of the consumer society is Mr.Batia, a fifty-two-year-old Indian journalist working in broadcasting. For him, however, the . is caused less by the nature of his work than by the competitive atmosphere which surrounds it.
Mr. Batia: " I' m not interested in my job. I'm not being treated properly and there are many . I just do honest work, but I do as little as I can. The atmosphere is very polluted. You can get promoted half a grade if you're willing to say: 'Yes sir, no sir!' I've been there twenty-three years, and I hate the whole of the place. They treat me like a colonial. Tbey think I live in the colonies, but I've done things in jurnalism that have never been done before. I have a colleague who is half a grade up and when the boss is away he's supposed to officiate. I've had rows with him: I have a hot temper. I said to him: 'Lood, don't you try to boss me or one of us will end up on the floor. I've met good Englishmen and bad Englishmen, and you' re the worst Englishman I've ever met.'
"I'm honest and and people don't like me. Nobody likes me. If.you are a you can get on well."
1
adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的参考例句：
- This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
- His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。
2
n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治参考例句：
- The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
- He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。
3
adj.机敏的，精明的参考例句：
- A good leader must be an astute judge of ability.一个优秀的领导人必须善于识别人的能力。
- The criminal was very astute and well matched the detective in intelligence.这个罪犯非常狡猾，足以对付侦探的机智。
4
n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 )参考例句：
- I think the best technical people make the best supervisors. 我认为最好的技术人员可以成为最好的管理人员。 来自辞典例句
- Even the foremen or first-level supervisors have a staffing responsibility. 甚至领班或第一线的监督人员也有任用的责任。 来自辞典例句
5
adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的参考例句：
- The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
- The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。
6
n.相互关系，相关，关连参考例句：
- The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
- A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。
7
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。
8
n.自我，自己，自尊参考例句：
- He is absolute ego in all thing.在所有的事情上他都绝对自我。
- She has been on an ego trip since she sang on television.她上电视台唱过歌之后就一直自吹自擂。
9
自我，自尊，自负( ego的名词复数 )参考例句：
- Their egos are so easily bruised. 他们的自尊心很容易受到伤害。
- The belief in it issues from the puerile egos of inferior men. 这种信仰是下等人幼稚的自私意识中产生的。
10
adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的参考例句：
- She made some highly complimentary remarks about their school.她对他们的学校给予高度的评价。
- The supermarket operates a complimentary shuttle service.这家超市提供免费购物班车。
11
n.不胜任，不称职参考例句：
- He was dismissed for incompetence. 他因不称职而被解雇。
- She felt she had been made a scapegoat for her boss's incompetence. 她觉得，本是老板无能，但她却成了替罪羊。
12
v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音参考例句：
- She wasn't yet attuned to her baby's needs. 她还没有熟悉她宝宝的需要。
- Women attuned to sensitive men found Vincent Lord attractive. 偏爱敏感男子的女人，觉得文森特·洛德具有魅力。 来自辞典例句
13
adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的参考例句：
- The company will lend you money on very favourable terms.这家公司将以非常优惠的条件借钱给你。
- We found that most people are favourable to the idea.我们发现大多数人同意这个意见。
14
v.不赞成，不同意，不批准参考例句：
- I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
- She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。
15
vt.把...做得过头，演得过火参考例句：
- Do not overdo your privilege of reproving me.不要过分使用责备我的特权。
- The taxi drivers' association is urging its members,who can work as many hours as they want,not to overdo it.出租车司机协会劝告那些工作时长不受限制的会员不要疲劳驾驶。
16
adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修参考例句：
- The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
- I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。
17
vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等)参考例句：
- They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。
- People may wield the power in a democracy.在民主国家里，人民可以行使权力。
18
减少的，减弱的参考例句：
- Listening to the speech through an interpreter lessened its impact somewhat. 演讲辞通过翻译的嘴说出来，多少削弱了演讲的力量。
- The flight to suburbia lessened the number of middle-class families living within the city. 随着迁往郊外的风行，住在城内的中产家庭减少了。
19
adv.不可避免地；必然发生地参考例句：
- In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
- Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。
20
n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层参考例句：
- There is a rigid hierarchy of power in that country.那个国家有一套严密的权力等级制度。
- She's high up in the management hierarchy.她在管理阶层中地位很高。
21
n.阴谋，密谋，共谋参考例句：
- The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
- He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。
22
约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）参考例句：
- I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
- a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
23
n.怨愤，忿恨参考例句：
- All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
- She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。
24
n.流氓；不诚实的人参考例句：
- If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
- The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。
25
adj.坚定的；有决心的参考例句：
- I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
- He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
26
adj.中年的参考例句：
- I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
- The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。
27
n.摩擦，摩擦力参考例句：
- When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
- Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。
28
adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的参考例句：
- Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
- Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。
29
（使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵参考例句：
- The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。
- The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。
30
adj.有理由的，无可非议的参考例句：
- What he has done is hardly justifiable.他的所作所为说不过去。
- Justifiable defense is the act being exempted from crimes.正当防卫不属于犯罪行为。
31
支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物参考例句：
- Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
- It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。
32
n.空房间( vacancy的名词复数 )；空虚；空白；空缺参考例句：
- job vacancies 职位空缺
- The sign outside the motel said \"No Vacancies\". 汽车旅馆外的招牌显示“客满”。 来自《简明英汉词典》
33
vt.指定，详细说明参考例句：
- We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
- Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。
34
v.搞糟；n.拙劣的工作参考例句：
- If you bungle a job,you must do it again!要是你把这件事搞糟了，你得重做！
- That last stupid bungle of his is the end.他那最后一次愚蠢的错误使我再也无法容忍了。
35
abbr.adjustable convertible-rate equity security (units) 可调节的股本证券兑换率；aircraft ejection seat 飞机弹射座椅；automatic control evaluation simulator 自动控制评估模拟器n.擅长…的人( ace的名词复数 )；精于…的人；（ 网球 ）（对手接不到发球的）发球得分；爱司球参考例句：
- The local representative of ACES will define the local area. ACES的当地代表将划定当地的范围。 来自互联网
- Any medical expenses not covered by ACES insurance are the sole responsibility of the parents. 任何ACES保险未包括的医疗费用一律是父母的责任。 来自互联网
36
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的参考例句：
- The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
- Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
37
adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地参考例句：
- She kept abreast with the flood of communications that had poured in.她及时回复如雪片般飞来的大批信件。
- We can't keep abreast of the developing situation unless we study harder.我们如果不加强学习，就会跟不上形势。
38
n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦参考例句：
- Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
- He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
39
不公平( injustice的名词复数 )； 非正义； 待…不公正； 冤枉参考例句：
- One who committed many injustices is doomed to failure. 多行不义必自毙。
- He felt confident that his injustices would be righted. 他相信他的冤屈会受到昭雪的。
40
n.心理，思想，脑力参考例句：
- He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
- Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。
41
adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的参考例句：
- He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
- She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。
42
v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处)参考例句：
- He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.我骂他骗子，他要我向他认错。
- She was cradling a small parcel in the crook of her elbow.她用手臂挎着一个小包裹。