The Simple Guide to Staying Out of Office Politics
Spend your time earning trust.
While some people spend their time playing an imaginary game of office chess, you can be actively earning the trust of key players around you. While information may be power, your reputation trumps（v.胜过）that kind of power easily.
Find a third party to talk to about work issues.
Just because you can’t dish the dirt（[俚]散布流言）on the job, that doesn’t mean you can air your grievances（n.不满，牢骚） with an outside party. Save the grumbling and groaning for your roommate, your spouse, your friend, your mom… anyone who’s not related to your workplace.
Don’t do anything to be the subject of gossip if you can help it.
This may be the most critical tactic of all. It’s easier to stay out of the gossip game if your name isn’t part of the drama. You don’t have to lay low, you just need to make sure that you’re only getting attention when you want it, for good reasons. In other words, don’t dish about（闲谈） your wedding, vent about(表达，发现)your annoying roommate. Stick to your job duties, and do them well. Play nice with others and build your reputation as a team player, and it’ll be hard for any sharks（[俚]贪婪狡猾之人） to see you as chum（n.密友）.
Note: I’m sure there a lot of folks who will disagree with some of the general premise here. Since you spend 33 percent of your life at work, you should be having fun and making friends, right? That’s fine with me. I’ve actually had managers hear about negative comments I’ve been reported to make and say, “That doesn’t sound like Sara. I’m going to check with her first before jumping to conclusions.” The larger issue for me is indeed credibility.
