align1="justify">Politics in the workplace can get vicious -- and we're not talking about the governmental kind. Rather, office politics, or how power and influence are managed in your company, will be a part of your career whether you choose to participate in them or not.
本文不是讨论政府部门的那种政治，而是办公室里的那种，或者说公司内部权力和影响力的控制。职场政治可能非常残酷，不论你参不参与它都将成为你事业的一部分。
Don't align yourself too strongly with just one group at the office because they may not hold power forever.
不要只和某一个群体紧密联系；由于他们或许不会一直掌权。
Some workers say they don't want to get caught up in politics at work, but most experts argue that playing the game is crucial to your career success. By not getting involved, you may find your talents ignored, your success limited and you may feel left out of the loop, says Louellen Essex, co-author of Manager's DeskTOP2 Consultant3: Just-in-Time Solutions to the Top People Problems That Keep You Up at Night.
有的职员称他们不愿卷入办公室政治中，但多数专家觉得参与到这场游戏中对你的事业有成至关要紧。《经理人办公桌顾问：叫你夜不可以寐的人际问题的准时解决方案》一书作者之一Louellen Essex觉得，假如不参与办公室政治，你的才华或许会被忽视、成功受限，你也会感到被排斥在外。
Politics get nasty when an employee is out for his or her personal gain alone, Essex says. Think of playing office politics as a game of strategy through which you are able to get the resources and influence you need to accomplish your goals. Most often those who are diplomatic, respectful and build coalitions4 with effective people win.
Essex说：当职员只追求个人利益时政治就肮脏起来。可以把参与职场政治作为一个游戏方案；通过这个方法你能获得达成目的所需要的资源和影响力。一般赢家都是那些老练的、尊重其他人的、和有影响力人士联系紧密的人。
Here are Essex's nine tips to help you win at office politics and still gain other's respect.
下面就是Essex给出的九条建议，助你在取得办公室政治的同时也获得其他人的尊重。
1. Observe how things get done in your organization.
察看事情是如何进行的
Ask some key questions: What are the core values and how are they enacted5? Are short- or long-term results most valued? How are decisions made? How much risk is tolerated? The answers to these questions should give you a good sense of the culture of your organization.
问些重点问题：企业的核心价值是什么，是怎么样体现的？最重视的是短期还是长期成效？决议是怎么样拟定的？可同意风险的程度有多大？这类问题的答案可以叫你对企业文化有个好的认识。
2. Profile powerful inpiduals
察看有权力的个体
Pay attention to their communication style, network of relationships and what types of proposals they say yes to most often. Emulate6 those traits by drawing on the strengths you have.
注意他们的交流风格、关系互联网及他们常常赞同什么种类的建议。发挥你的长处，模仿这类特质。
3. Determine strategic initiatives in the company
决定企业的策略计划
Update your skills to be relevant to company initiatives. For example, don't lag behind in technology, quality or customer service approaches that are crucial to you and your company's success.
提高和公司进步有关的技能。比如在对你和公司成功都至关要紧的技术、水平或客服方法上都别落后。
4. Develop a personal track record as someone who gets results
将我们的形象建设为富有成就的职员
Style without substance will not gain others' respect, especially in today's organizations that focus on outcome.
有风格没实质内容不会叫你获得其他人的尊重，在现在重视结果的公司里尤为这样。
5. Don't be afraid to toot your own horn
别忘了自吹自擂
If no one knows of your good work, you may lose at the game of office politics -- when you really deserve to win. Let others know what you've accomplished7 whenever you get the opportunity. If you don't know the fine art of diplomatic bragging8, you might get lost in the shuffle9 of your co-workers.
假如没人了解你的出色工作，你或许就会在办公室政治中失败，而胜利本该是是你的。只须有机会，就必须要让其他人了解你都做了哪些。假如你不会自吹自擂的话，或许会淹没在同事中。
6. Treat everyone with respect
尊重每一个人
Don't show preferential treatment or treat co-workers badly. You never know who someone might be connected to and rude behavior may come back to bite you.
不要优待或虐待同事。你不会了解哪个和哪个关系紧密；你的粗鲁行为会反过来伤害到你。
7. Don't align too strongly with one group
不要和某一个集团联系太紧密
While an alliance may be powerful for the moment, new leadership will often oust10 existing coalitions and surround themselves with a new team. Bridging across factions11 may be a more effective strategy for long-term success if you intend to stay in your current organization for some time.
结盟在某一刻或许是强有力的，但新的领导阶层总是会驱逐现有些网盟并任用一个新团队。假如你期望在现在的公司待上比较长的时间的话，那样对长远成功来讲更有效的方案是跨派系团结。
8. Learn to communicate persuasively12
学习交流口才
Develop an assertive13 style, backed with solid facts and examples, to focus others' attention on your ideas and proposals. Good politicians can adjust their messages for their audience and are always well-prepared.
培养一种自信的风格，并以确凿事例为支撑，从而让其他人的注意力集中在你的想法和建议上。好的政治家们能依据观众来调整传达的信息，而且一直筹备充分。
9. Be true to yourself.
对自己要坦诚
After analyzing14 the political landscape in your company, if you decide the game is one you can't play, prepare to move on. It's not typical, but some organizations actually condone15 -- even promote -- dishonest, ruthless or unethical behavior. The game of office politics in this situation is not one worth winning.
在剖析完企业的政治形势后，假如你决定这是一场不可以进行的游戏，那样就做好离职筹备。 虽然不容易见到，但有的公司事实上是在宽恕--甚至鼓励--不诚实、无情的或者非道德的行为。如此的办公室政治游戏不值得去赢。
