By Rachel Zupek
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。职场政治可能很残酷，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；因为他们也许不会一直掌权。
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 Desktop Consultant: Just-in-Time Solutions to the Top People Problems That Keep You Up at Night."
有些员工称他们不愿卷入办公室政治中，但是多数专家认为参与到这场游戏中对你的事业成功至关重要。《经理人办公桌顾问：让你夜不能寐的人际问题的及时解决方法》一书作者之一Louellen Essex认为，如果不参与办公室政治，你的才华可能会被忽略、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 coalitions with effective people win."
Essex说：“当员工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策略；通过这个方式你能获得达成目标所需要的资源和影响力。通常赢家都是那些老练的、尊重别人的、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，帮你在赢得办公室政治的同时也获得别人的尊重。
1. Observe how things get done in your organization.
观察事情是怎样进行的
Ask some key questions: What are the core values and how are they enacted? 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.
问些关键问题：公司的核心价值是什么，是如何体现的？最看重的是短期还是长期效果？决议是如何制定的？可接受风险的程度有多大？这些问题的答案可以让你对企业文化有个好的认识。
2. Profile powerful individuals
观察有权力的个体
Pay attention to their communication style, network of relationships and what types of proposals they say "yes" to most often. Emulate those traits by drawing on the strengths you have.
注意他们的沟通风格、关系网络及他们常常同意什么类型的提议。发挥你的长处，模仿这些特质。
