Conventional business wisdom has long held that the nice guy -- or gal -- won't get as far up the corporate ladder as the cutthroat competitor.

傳統的商業經在很長一段時間內都認定好好先生（或女士）在職場晉升的斗爭中會輸給那些殘酷的競爭對手。

Today's challenging economic times would seem to allow even less room for pleasantries in the business world.

如今越來越嚴峻的經濟形勢更使得那些老好人在商場無藏身之所。

But executive coach Russ C. Edelman, who is a principal in a Boston-based consulting firmbelieves otherwise.

但是波士頓一家咨詢公司的主要負責人、執行教練Russ C. Edelman則有不同的意見。

"The underlying element is balance -- you can't be a jerk, and you can't be too nice," says Edelman,"You have to be assertive and cordial."

Edelman說：“最基本的要點是平衡性—你不要去做個混蛋，但是你也不用太好。你必須要非常自信、很熱忱。”

Here are six of his strategies for how nice employees -- and their companies -- can finish first.

以下六條建議是那些好員工和他們的公司可以率先做到的。

1. Warts and All

不隱瞞任何缺點

Rather than trying to seem perfect, being honest about your shortcomings in an interview or on the job can be perceived as an asset.

與其試圖讓自己看起來很完美，還不如在面試或工作中誠實的承認自己的缺點，這樣的話別人才會認為你是有價值的員工。

"People need to maintain a level of awareness of their strengths and weaknesses. It's important from an interview perspective that you can be candid," says Edelman.

Edelman說：“人們需要對自己的優缺點有一定的認識。從面試官的角度來說你的坦率是很重要的。”

2. Set Limits

設置上限

You'll earn more respect from your boss and colleagues if you set appropriate limits, while pledging to support shared goals.

在承諾為共同的目標提供支持時設置恰當的限度會讓你的上司和同事更加尊重你。

People laud the corporate hero -- the person going above and beyond -- but not corporate martyrs, who have killed themselves and potentially put the business in a compromised situation.

人們會稱贊公司的英雄——那個鶴立雞群的人，但是不會稱贊公司的殉難者，那些不僅讓自己壯烈犧牲還讓公司陷于兩難境地的人。

3. Decisions, Decisions

決策，決心

Don't be so overwhelmed by the number of difficult choices that you make none at all. It's OK as a manager to operate a "selective democracy" in which you take a sampling of views to get input, but don't include everyone in the process.

不要被那些根本不需要你拿主意的困難抉擇而打敗。你也可以用“民主選擇”的方式收集幾個人的意見，然后整理給經理，讓他來做決策，在整個過程中并不需要每個人都顧及到。

"Overly nice guys are too enamored with trying to get everyone involved."

“濫好人都太執著于試圖讓每個人都參與進來。”

4. The Courage to Speak Up

敢于說出來的勇氣

Learn to find a comfortable place between speaking up about a problem -- and those responsible for it -- and maintaining respect for others.

學會在說出一個問題以及要承擔的相關責任之間找到一個舒服的位置，并且要尊重他人。

"You want to be able to demonstrate you have skills to have the 'courageous discussion' and confront and disarma situation without it becoming very ugly."

你要能夠證明在一個問題變得非常難堪之前你有面對困難、有討論的勇氣以及有解決問題的能力。

5. Risks Lead to Rewards

冒險給你帶來回報

Don't be afraid to take a risk by putting your great idea or proposal out there. At the same time, find a way to do so that suits your personal style.

不要害怕把你的好想法和提案說出來會承擔風險。同時，也要找到一種符合你個人風格的方式來做這件事。

"Are you someone who's going to walk up to the CEO and say, 'This is what I like and this is what I don't like about the company,' or someone who has to float an idea by 60 people? What if you have a great idea and your manager doesn't want to hear it? Do you go around him?"

“你是這樣的人嗎？徑直走進CEO辦公室，跟他說‘對于本公司，哪些是我喜歡的，哪些是我不喜歡的“還是說你有想法后要去詢問60個人的意見？如果你有個很棒的主意而你的經理不采納怎么辦？你是否會繞過他呢？”

6. Win-Win Situation

雙贏的情況

If you come up with the goods to qualify for a promotion or land new business for the company, accept your good fortune.更多信息請訪問：http://www.24en.com/

如果你符合了晉升的條件或者為公司談了一筆新生意，那就坦然接受你的好運吧。

"You have a right to win," Edelman says. "So many overly nice guys will compromise their success and their companies' to avoid hurting someone else's feelings. They would rather lose themselves than see one of their friends or colleagues lose out on the situation."

Edelman說：“你有贏的權利，而有的濫好人會為了怕傷害到其他人的感情而放棄了自己的成功，也給公司帶來了傷害。他們寧愿自己失敗也不愿意看到一個朋友或同事出局。”