1. Never, ever be late to a meeting

1. 永远不要迟到

To think about it real terms, it does not usually matter if you are a few minutes late to everything. In practice, though, being late by so much as a minute annoys people - even if your being late causes them no trouble at all. Becoming known as someone who always keeps his appointments can pay off over the long run.

说实话，迟到几分钟通常来说不会带来重大影响。但实际上，只是迟到一分钟就会引人不爽--即使你的迟到并未给他们带来麻烦。长远来看，总是如约而至的人终会得到回报。

2. Whatever you do, do not miss a deadline

2. 不要拖到截止日期才做事

Many workers only treat deadlines as general targets. Working among such people, you will be able to stand out if you take every deadline seriously. A reputation as someone who is ever dependable will not only gain you respect, it will help you gain responsibilities that managers above you will not trust anyone else with.

很多职场人士都将截止日期视作一般目标。与这些人共事时，认真对待截止日期你就能脱颖而出。有一个值得信任的名声在外，你将不仅获得尊重，也会获得上司的另眼相待。

3. Stay away from gossip¹, especially on the Internet3. 远离八卦，尤其是在线八卦

Most people do gossip; yet, when they catch other people doing the same thing, they judge them for it. Gossiping in person or leaving a trail by gossiping over a social network or email can be terrible for your image at work, should word ever get out. There is also always the risk that you will one day end up sending a piece of gossip to exactly the wrong person.

大多数人都会八卦，但有些人在发现别人八卦后，会对他评头品足。当面八卦或在社交平台/电子邮件上八卦留下'把柄'被传出去后，会给人留下糟糕的职场印象。也许有一天你会将八卦信息发错人，毕竟这样的风险一直存在。

4. Do not be caught shooting the breeze²

4. 闲聊时不要被逮到

Socializing at work is an important way of making contacts, building relationships and getting things done. Yet, it always comes with the risk of being judged as a time waster.

社交是工作时建立联系、打好关系、做成事情的一种重要方式。但是，认为社交是浪费时间行为的大有人在。

5. Be good to those below you

5. 友善对待职位低于你的人

While the people who take orders from you do not have the power to make trouble for you, their opinion of you does count. If you are respected by everyone below you, it will show in a way that your superiors³ will see. Common courtesy⁴ is a fundamental⁵ requirement of success.

虽然听命于你的人无权给你制造麻烦，但他们对你的看法却很重要。如果你受到每位下属的敬重，你的上司终将会看到你的闪光点。礼貌是成功的基本要求。

6. Do not be too nice

6. 不要过于友好

While you do want to be helpful and polite, you need to make sure that you do not let your concern for others rule your life. Many people interpret⁶ niceness as a sign of weakness.

虽然你想要帮助别人、待人有礼，但前提是：关心他人不应成为生活的主导。很多人会将友善解读成软弱。