Socializing with your workmates…and your boss! (I)

18 Sep 2009

Going out with your workmates for a meal or a few beers is the most natural thing in the world. At one time or another, almost everybody will get together with some colleagues to socialize. You may attend parties where your supervisors or managers are present, or you might be a senior manager socializing with your subordinates. In either case, it's important to know which types of communicative behavior are appropriate and which ones aren't.
與同事聚餐或是一起把酒談心是最自然不過的事，幾乎每個人都會時不時與同事有社交活動。有時，你也許會參加與上司或經理同場的派對場合，又或者是以一個上司的身份與下屬聯誼。無論是哪種情況，了解適合的溝通技巧或表現是十分重要，不然便會造成反效果。

Spending social time with employees can boost morale. Employees welcome the chance to get to know their bosses as a people, not only just as managers. During the work week, they see their boss as a source of assignments, discipline with very little time to relate. So it can be a welcomed change to be around the boss, when he or she displays more humor, and asks you about your family and yourself.
與員工不時聯誼可增強士氣，而員工很樂意了解他們的上司平常是怎樣的人，而非只是經理的身份。工作的時候，他們認為上司就是安排工作及訓導的人，甚少有機會閒聊。因此，當發覺上司偶爾展現出幽默感，了解多點關於上司的家庭或個人背景時，便會讓下屬帶來一點轉變。

Employees and their bosses should both be aware, however, that the social scene does not always remove the workplace lines of authority. Here are seven tips that every employer and employee should keep in mind for after-hours mingling:
然而，員工及其上司們都需要注意，即使是在社交場合，工作上建立的權威及界綫是不容忽略的。以下會分享一此工作以外，社交聯誼應該留意的要點，供僱主及員工參考：

Avoid suggestive humor. The jokes you would tell your mates might present a problem if you share them with your colleagues, no matter how informal the setting. They might laugh out of courtesy but you risk losing their respect so don't tell any joke that you wouldn't tell at a meeting in the office.
避免說不良意識的笑話。即使身處一個較為輕鬆的環境，你平時與死黨分享的笑話未必適合與同事分享。他們也許會出於禮貌而對你的笑話作出反應。然而，與同事分享一些你不能在開會時講的笑話，有可能導致他們失去對你的尊敬。

Refrain from touching, other than a handshake, unless you happen to go dancing with the group. Draping an arm around a colleague is rarely appropriate and can create an image of pandering.
避免身體接觸。除非你們一起跳舞，否則除了握手以外，應避免其他身體接觸。把手搭在同事的肩膀上是不太適當的舉動，有可能令人覺得虛偽或過分親密。

Wall Street Institute 英語學院創立於1972 年，是現時全球最具規模的國際英語專科教育機構，分校超過400間，橫跨5大洲28個國家，憑藉37年的經驗，已成功協助全球超過200萬人成功提升英語水平。Wall Street Institute 的香港分校成立於 2000年，至今在港已開設了5間分校，及1所專為公司及機構提供英語培訓服務的企業英語培訓中心。(www.wallstreet.edu.hk)