Honesty is often said to be the best policy in social situations but being yourself at work is not a good idea for your career, research suggests, the Telegraph reported. While revealing your true character to a partner or friends is likely to make you happier, experts claim doing so at the office is not a recipe for promotion.

Scientists assessed levels of "authentic self expression" in 533 volunteers to see how far they opened up to people they interacted with socially. The results showed that participants were more likely to "be themselves" with partners, followed by friends and then parents. However, they were much less likely to show their true self to work colleagues.

Dr Oliver Robinson, from the University of Greenwich in London, said: "So in some circumstances, it may be that a polite smile or tactfully keeping quiet may be more conducive to your well-being than saying what you actually think and feel to work colleagues."

(China.org.cn April 23, 2012)

据《每日电讯报》报道，研究人员发现，诚实往往被认为是社交场合的上策，但在工作中，太随性对事业有害无益。专家建议，对伴侣或朋友展露真我可以让人快乐，但在办公室这么做却不利于升职。

科学家们对533位志愿者与他人进行社会交往时“表达真实自我”的程度进行了评估。结果发现，与伴侣和朋友在一起时，志愿者更愿意“做自己”，其次是跟父母。他们多数不愿意对同事同样坦诚。

来自伦敦格林威治大学的奥利弗·罗宾逊博士说：“因此在某些情况下，对同事一个礼貌的微笑或善意的沉默，也许比说出你真实的想法或感受要好。”