上班闲聊有助于白领升职?

　　You know the type: They’ve just asked you where you got your shoes, and as you proceed to tell them about this amazing sample sale you happened upon last week, you notice they’re not looking at you but over your shoulder at the VIP who just entered the room. Never make people feel like you’re not interested in what they have to say. Not only is it rude, but it makes you look like a total social climber. And who wants that label?

　　保持眼神交流。

　　你知道有这种人：他们刚问了你在哪里买到的这双鞋，你正要告诉他们上周你碰巧遇到了很棒的尾货特卖会，你却注意到他们没在看你，而是看着你身后那个刚进门的重要人物呢。永远不要让别人觉得你对他们即将要说出口的那些话不感兴趣。不只是因为这样很无礼，而且这会使你被别人看作一个十足的趋炎附势的人。谁希望自己被冠上这种标签呢？

　　Know when to fold ’em.

　　 Starting the conversation can be hard. Ending it can be sheer torture. You don’t want to just walk away, but at the same time you can feel that awkward silence approaching. Soon the two of you will have pained expressions on your faces as you desperately search for a way out. Don’t let it get to that point. Either bring someone else into the conversation and then gracefully move on, or say that you’re heading to the bar for a drink, but hope to catch up with them later on. (And hey, if you like the person, make sure that you do.)

　　知道何时闭嘴。

　　开始一段谈话可能很困难，结束一段谈话更是不折不扣的折磨。你不想直接掉头走开，可同时你又感受到那尴尬的沉静迎面而来。因为你们两个都急于找个理由离开，你们脸上很快就会出现痛苦的神情。不要落到那种境地。这么做吧：拉另一个人加入对话，然后优雅地走开；或者告诉对方你要去吧台拿杯饮料，希望稍后再和他们聊。（嘿，如果你喜欢那个人，一定要记得稍后再聊几句。）

　　As for me, I’ve been practicing my small-talk strategy, and the good news is, it’s a lot easier than I thought it would be. Not to mention much more stimulating. Trust me, the walls just aren’t that interesting. But you probably knew that already.

　　就我而言，我已经开始练习我的闲聊策略了。好消息是，这比我想象的容易得多，就更别提有多么刺激了。相信我，墙壁没有那么有趣，不过，你或许早就知道了。