The Rules of Work, Expanded Edition: A Definitive Code for Personal Success

✍ Scribed by Richard Templar

• Publisher: FT Press
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 273
• Series: Richard Templar's Rules
• Edition: Expanded
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Some people are simply great at their job. They always seem to say the right thing; do the right thing. They are mentioned in every conversation. Everybody likes them. They get promoted. They get pay rises. They get along with the boss. And somehow, they do all these things without being unpleasant, breaking much of a sweat or seeming to put in excess effort. And when they are offered another step up the corporate ladder or a fabulous new job, no one is surprised. After all, they have 'potential' written all over them. How do they do it? Do they know some secret we don't? Yes, they know The Rules of Work. These rules aren't about how to do your job, day-to-day (assuming you are pretty good at that already). The Rules of Work are about how you are seen to be doing it. They are about how you appear to others. And they are about helping you to achieve the success you richly deserve. The first edition of The Rules of Work became a global phenomenon, topping bestseller charts around the world. This new, even better, edition includes 10 brand new rules to take you further, faster. These rules are the guiding principles that will improve both what you do and how you do it, giving you the unmistakable air of confidence that will win you admiration, respect, and the next promotion. With The Rules under your belt you'll have the edge in everything you do, without having to compromise your principles.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents......Page 4
Foreword......Page 9
Introduction......Page 11
Part I: Walk Your Talk......Page 18
1 Get Your Work Noticed......Page 21
2 Never Stand Still......Page 23
3 Volunteer Carefully......Page 25
4 Carve Out a Niche for Yourself......Page 27
5 Under Promise and Over Deliver......Page 29
6 Learn to Ask Why......Page 31
7 Be 100 Percent Committed......Page 33
8 Learn from Others’ Mistakes......Page 35
9 Enjoy What You Are Doing......Page 37
10 Develop the Right Attitude......Page 39
11 Be Passionate But Don’t Kill Yourself......Page 41
12 Manage Your Energy......Page 43
13 Never Let Anyone Know How Hard You Work......Page 45
14 Keep Your Home Life at Home......Page 47
Part II: Know That You’re Being Judged at All Times......Page 50
15 Cultivate a Smile......Page 53
16 No Limp Fish—Develop the Perfect Handshake......Page 55
17 Exude Confidence and Energy......Page 57
18 Develop a Style That Gets You Noticed......Page 59
19 Pay Attention to Personal Grooming......Page 61
20 Be Attractive......Page 63
21 Be Cool......Page 65
22 Speak Well......Page 67
23 Write Well......Page 69
Part III: Have a Plan......Page 72
24 Know What You Want Long Term......Page 75
25 Know What You Want Short term......Page 77
26 Study the Promotion System......Page 79
27 Develop a Game Plan......Page 81
28 Set Objectives......Page 83
29 Know Your Role......Page 85
30 Know Yourself—Strengths and Weaknesses......Page 87
31 Identify Key Times and Events......Page 89
32 Anticipate Threats......Page 91
33 Look for Opportunities......Page 93
34 Make Learning a Lifelong Mission......Page 95
Part IV: If You Can’t Say Anything Nice—Shut Up......Page 98
35 Don’t Gossip......Page 101
36 Don’t Bitch......Page 103
37 Stand Up for Others......Page 105
38 Compliment People Sincerely......Page 107
39 Be Cheerful and Positive......Page 109
40 Ask Questions......Page 111
41 Use “Please” and “Thank you”......Page 113
42 Don’t Swear......Page 115
43 Be a Good Listener......Page 117
44 Only Speak Sense......Page 119
Part V: Look After Yourself......Page 122
45 Know the Ethics of Your Industry......Page 125
46 Know the Legalities of Your Industry......Page 127
47 Set Personal Standards......Page 129
48 Never Lie......Page 131
49 Never Cover Up for Anyone Else......Page 133
50 Keep Records......Page 135
51 Know the Difference Between the Truth and The Whole Truth......Page 137
52 Cultivate Your Support/Contacts/Friends......Page 139
53 Date with Caution......Page 141
54 Understand Others’ Motives......Page 143
55 Assume Everyone Else Is Playing by Different Rules......Page 145
56 Keep the Faith......Page 147
57 Put Things in Perspective......Page 149
Part VI: Blend In......Page 152
58 Know the Corporate Culture......Page 155
59 Speak the Language......Page 157
60 Dress Up or Dress Down Accordingly......Page 159
61 Be Adaptable in Your Dealings with Different People......Page 161
62 Make Your Boss Look Good......Page 163
63 Know Where to Hang Out, and When......Page 165
64 Understand Social Protocols......Page 167
65 Know the Rules about Authority......Page 169
66 Know the Rules about the Office Hierarchy......Page 171
67 Never Disapprove of Others......Page 173
68 Understand the Herd Mentality......Page 175
Part VII: Act One Step Ahead......Page 178
69 Dress One Step Ahead......Page 181
70 Talk One Step Ahead......Page 183
71 Act One Step Ahead......Page 185
72 Think One Step Ahead......Page 187
73 Address Corporate Issues and Problems......Page 189
74 Make Your Company Better for Having You There......Page 191
75 Talk of “We” Rather Than “I”......Page 193
76 Walk the Walk......Page 195
77 Spend More Time with Senior Staff......Page 197
78 Get People to Assume You Have Already Made the Step......Page 199
79 Prepare for the Step After Next......Page 201
Part VIII: Cultivate Diplomacy......Page 204
80 Ask Questions in Times of Conflict......Page 207
81 Don’t Take Sides......Page 209
82 Know When to Keep Your Opinions to Yourself......Page 211
83 Be Conciliatory......Page 213
84 Never Lose Your Temper......Page 215
85 Never Get Personal......Page 217
86 Know How to Handle Other People’s Anger......Page 219
87 Stand Your Ground......Page 221
88 Be Objective About the Situation......Page 223
Part IX: Know the System—and Milk It......Page 226
89 Know All the Unspoken Rules of Office Life......Page 229
90 Know What to Call Everyone......Page 231
91 Know When to Stay Late and When to Go Early......Page 233
92 Know the Theft or Perks Rule......Page 235
93 Identify the People Who Count......Page 237
94 Be on the Right Side of the People Who Count......Page 239
95 Be Well Up on New Management Techniques......Page 241
96 Know the Undercurrents and Hidden Agendas......Page 243
97 Know the Favorites and Cultivate Them......Page 245
98 Know the Mission Statement—and Understand It......Page 247
Part X: Handle the Opposition......Page 250
99 Identify the Opposition......Page 253
100 Study Them Closely......Page 255
101 Don’t Back-Stab......Page 257
102 Know the Psychology of Promotion......Page 259
103 Don’t Give Too Much Away......Page 261
104 Keep Your Ear to the Ground......Page 263
105 Make the Opposition Seem Irreplaceable......Page 265
106 Don’t Damn the Opposition with Faint Praise......Page 267
107 Capitalize on the Career-Enhancing Moments......Page 269
108 Cultivate the Friendship and Approval of Your Colleagues......Page 271
Postscript: Know When to Break the Rules......Page 273