Leaders Who Use Humour and Charm to Reach the Top

Humour and charm are a surprisingly powerful combination as a means of ascent in life.

I have met a number of entrepreneurs who have built fortunes on the back of their wit and general popularity -and not much else. They disarm us with self-deprecation, we enjoy their company-so why wouldn't we want to do business with them? Of course, it all has to be done well; sycophancy and flat jokes do not weave the same spell.

The British feel that some light relief amid the drudgery is essential for existence to be tolerable. It seems to be a cornerstone of our psychology and culture. In London, to say someone has no sense of humour is to condemn them utterly. Many important meetings I attend start with a little friendly banter to break the ice, a ritual to remind us that we are all human-rather than simply robots of commerce.

I am sure foreigners must think our levity is baffling. My defence is that Brits subscribe to Horace's view: "A jest often decides matters of importance more effectively and happily than seriousness."

Some years ago, a partner of mine practised what I called "management by laughter". He motivated and inspired by making the atmosphere at work fun, rather than the bullying and intimidation common in many workplaces.

But the 21st-century office can be a minefield for the amateur who enjoys a giggle. I was recently warned about a trap being sprung by a professional gang from eastern Europe. They plant an attractive female staff member in an organisation. At roughly the same time, a male co-conspirator also gets a job; the connection between them is unknown to the employer. After a little while, he sends a series of highly suggestive internet jokes to the pretty female. She complains of harassment and threatens to bring an embarrassing employment tribunal involving sexual discrimination-and, once she reveals that she has hired expert legal advisers and PR agents, the victim business settles quickly.

In these litigious, politically correct times, the perils of making cheap gags can be considerable. Recently, I attended a dinner at a trade conference. The speaker was a well-known executive who told a number of jokes in poor taste, some at the expense of influential figures in the room. Just as a vulgar best man's speech at a wedding can strike the wrong note, so I sensed as we chatted after the speech that the jibes would not be swiftly forgotten.

Some one once said: "Brains, integrity and force may be all very well, but what you need today is charm." This is the age of celebrity, even in the boardroom, and none of us is impervious to the presence of those legendary characters when they switch on the full blast of their glittering personality. Perhaps it is their reputation, perhaps their smile, perhaps their brilliance with words-or possibly their rapt attention.

I am often struck how often young children utter the phrase "Look at me!" They want appreciation, and fundamentally not much changes, even when we are 50. Genuine approval from the boss can taste better than anything-even a pay rise.

Are charm and a sense of humour acquired traits? They certainly improve with effort and practice. Ronald Reagan used his years in showbiz to hone his performance skills before succeeding in politics.

I have sat with stand-up comics before they go on stage. The most brilliant appear almost nonchalant, rather than rehearsed or anxious, and their acts are mostly learnt word-perfect yet appear spontaneous.

So it is with outstanding business leaders who persuade their teams to laugh and try harder: they apply themselves assiduously to the task. Most world-class chief executives possess charisma-really a captivating blend of charm and wit. And, believe me, they graft at it far more than they admit.

领导靠幽默与魅力发迹

作为人生发迹的手段之一，幽默和魅力是一对效力惊人的组合。

我遇见过许多凭借风趣机智和好人缘白手起家的企业家。他们谦和自敛，让我们生不起气来。我们与他们相处愉快一一所以我们为什么不与他们做生意呢?当然，这里面必须讲求技巧。一味溜颈拍马，开一些干巴巴的玩笑，不会产生同样的魔力。

英国人认为，人生在世，就得苦中作乐。这似乎是我们心理学和文化的一条基本原则。在伦敦，说一个人缺乏幽默感，等于是说他一无是处。我出席的许多重要会议，都以一些善意的玩笑开场，以此打破沉默。这种惯例提醒我们，我们都是凡人，而不完全是商业机器。

外国人肯定认为我们的轻浮举止不可理喻。要让我说，我们英国人是赞同贺拉斯的观点：“遇到大事，比起一本正经的态度，开开玩笑固能够更有效、也更开心地解决问题。”

几年前，我的一位合伙人实行我所说的“欢笑管理”。他鼓舞和激励士气的方法，是营造充满乐趣的工作氛围，不同于许多工作场所常见的威逼和胁迫的氛围。

然而，对于喜欢逗笑取乐的人来说，21世纪的职场可能会是个雷区。我最近听到警告，说一个来自东欧的专业犯罪团伙会设下这样的圈套：在一家机构安插一名漂亮迷人的女员工，再让一名男同伙也混进去。两人前后脚进入这家公司，他们的关系不为人所知。不久后，他就向那位美女发送了一堆黄色网络笑话。于是她投诉遭到骚扰，并威胁要以性别歧视为由，告到让人头大的就业法庭。而一旦她透露出已聘请了专业法律顾问和公关代理，受害企业就会赶紧花钱了事。

在这种动辄法庭上见、政治上正确的时代，讲低级笑话可能会相当危险。我最近出席了一个贸易会议举办的晚宴，席间一位颇有名气的高管发表了演讲。他讲了许多低级趣味的笑话，有些还是取笑在座的显要人物。演讲后我们在闲聊时，我感觉到，他的那些话不会被很快忘记，这与婚礼上伴郎讲话粗俗不合时宜一样。

曾有人说：“拥有才智、诚实和力量固然不错，但当今你需要的是魅力。” 这是一个名人的时代，即使在董事会也是如此。那些鼎鼎大名的人物一旦全力展现他们迷人的个性或者是名声、或者是微笑、或者是口才，又或者是专注的神情，投入能够抵御。

小孩子常常会说“看我的!”，对此我常常感到惊讶。他们想要得到赞赏。这一点在长大后基本上也不会改变，即使到了50岁。老板真心的称赞比什么——甚至加薪，都更让人觉得受用。

魅力和幽默感能够后天培养吗?努力练习肯定会有作用。罗纳德·里根早年在演艺界干过，练得一身表演才能，后来才进入政界，成就了一番事业。

我曾经在一些笑星登台前与他们坐在一起。最出色的笑星出场前几乎都显得若无其事，既没有背台词，也没有焦虑不安。他们表演的内容基本上都是事先背下来的，但却显得像是即兴发挥。

杰出的企业领导能够让他的团队既开心又卖力工作：他们自己会勤于工作。世界级的首席执行官大多魅力非凡——这实际上是吸引力和风趣机智的迷人组合。另外，请相信我，他们花费在这上面的心力，远远超过他们所承认的。

句型讲解：

1. She complains of harassment and threatens to bring an embarrassing employment tribunal involving sexual discrimination-and, once she reveals that she has hired expert legal advisers and PR agents, the victim business settles quickly.

本句是一个复合句，主句是由and连接的两个并列的句子。第一个句子中， and连接两个并列的谓语， involving sexual discrimination现在分词短语作后置定语，修饰employment tribunal.第二个句子中，once引导时间状语从句，其中that引导宾语从句，作reveal的宾语。

语法重点：并列结构，分词短语作定语，时间状语从句，宾语从句英语四级报名

2. Just as a vulgar best man's speech at a wedding can strike the wrong note, so I sensed as we chatted after the speech that the jibes would not be swiftly forgotten.

本句是一个复合句。第一个as引导方式状语从句，意为"正如"。第二个as引导时间状语从句。that引导宾语从句，作sense的宾语。

语法重点：方式状语从句，时间状语从句，宾语从句

3. This is the age of celebrity, even in the boardroom. and none of us is impervious to the presence of those legendary characters when they switch on the full blast of their glittering personality.

本句是一个复合句。主句是由and连接的两个并列的句子This is...and... legendary characters. When引导时间状语从句。

语法重点：时间状语从句