Some people are simply great at their job; they always seem to say or do the right thing. They are mentioned in every conversation. Everybody likes them. They get promoted. They get pay raises. 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, they are about how you are seen 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: A Definitive Code for Personal Successbecame a global phenomenon, topping bestseller charts around the world. This new 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:
Foreword viii
Introduction x
Part I Walk Your Talk 1
1 Get Your Work Noticed 4
2 Never Stand Still 6
3 Volunteer Carefully 8
4 Carve Out a Niche for Yourself 10
5 Under Promise and Over Deliver 12
6 Learn to Ask Why 14
7 Be 100 Percent Committed 16
8 Learn from Others’ Mistakes 18
9 Enjoy What You Are Doing 20
10 Develop the Right Attitude 22
11 Be Passionate But Don’t Kill Yourself 24
12 Manage Your Energy 26
13 Never Let Anyone Know How Hard You Work 28
14 Keep Your Home Life at Home 30
Part II Know That You’re Being Judged at All Times 33
15 Cultivate a Smile 36
16 No Limp Fish—Develop the Perfect Handshake 38
17 Exude Confidence and Energy 40
18 Develop a Style That Gets You Noticed 42
19 Pay Attention to Personal Grooming 44
20 Be Attractive 46
21 Be Cool 48
22 Speak Well 50
23 Write Well 52
Part III Have a Plan 55
24 Know What You Want Long Term 58
25 Know What You Want Short term 60
26 Study the Promotion System 62
27 Develop a Game Plan 64
28 Set Objectives 66
29 Know Your Role 68
30 Know Yourself—Strengths and Weaknesses 70
31 Identify Key Times and Events 72
32 Anticipate Threats 74
33 Look for Opportunities 76
34 Make Learning a Lifelong Mission 78
Part IV If You Can’t Say Anything Nice—Shut Up 81
35 Don’t Gossip 84
36 Don’t Bitch 86
37 Stand Up for Others 88
38 Compliment People Sincerely 90
39 Be Cheerful and Positive 92
40 Ask Questions 94
41 Use “Please” and “Thank You” 96
42 Don’t Swear 98
43 Be a Good Listener 100
44 Only Speak Sense 102
Part V Look After Yourself 105
45 Know the Ethics of Your Industry 108
46 Know the Legalities of Your Industry 110
47 Set Personal Standards 112
48 Never Lie 114
49 Never Cover Up for Anyone Else 116
50 Keep Records 118
51 Know the Difference Between the Truth and The Whole Truth 120
52 Cultivate Your Support/Contacts/ Friends 122
53 Date with Caution 124
54 Understand Others’ Motives 126
55 Assume Everyone Else Is Playing by Different Rules 128
56 Keep the Faith 130
57 Put Things in Perspective 132
Part VI Blend In 135
58 Know the Corporate Culture 138
59 Speak the Language 140
60 Dress Up or Dress Down Accordingly 142
61 Be Adaptable in Your Dealings with Different People 144
62 Make Your Boss Look Good 146
63 Know Where to Hang Out, and When 148
64 Understand Social Protocols 150
65 Know the Rules about Authority 152
66 Know the Rules about the Office Hierarchy 154
67 Never Disapprove of Others 156
68 Understand the Herd Mentality 158
Part VII Act One Step Ahead 161
69 Dress One Step Ahead 164
70 Talk One Step Ahead 166
71 Act One Step Ahead 168
72 Think One Step Ahead 170
73 Address Corporate Issues and Problems 172
74 Make Your Company Better for Having You There 174
75 Talk of “We” Rather Than “I” 176
76 Walk the Walk 178
77 Spend More Time with Senior Staff 180
78 Get People to Assume You Have Already Made the Step 182
79 Prepare for the Step After Next 184
Part VIII Cultivate Diplomacy 187
80 Ask Questions in Times of Conflict 190
81 Don’t Take Sides 192
82 Know When to Keep Your Opinions to Yourself 194
83 Be Conciliatory 196
84 Never Lose Your Temper 198
85 Never Get Personal 200
86 Know How to Handle Other People’s Anger 202
87 Stand Your Ground 204
88 Be Objective About the Situation 206
Part IX Know the System--and Milk It 209
89 Know All the Unspoken Rules of Office Life 212
90 Know What to Call Everyone 214
91 Know When to Stay Late and When to Go Early 216
92 Know the Theft or Perks Rule 218
93 Identify the People Who Count 220
94 Be on the Right Side of the People Who Count 222
95 Be Well Up on New Management Techniques 224
96 Know the Undercurrents and Hidden Agendas 226
97 Know the Favorites and Cultivate Them 228
98 Know the Mission Statement--and Understand It 230
Part X Handle the Opposition 233
99 Identify the Opposition 236
100 Study Them Closely 238
101 Don’t Back-Stab 240
102 Know the Psychology of Promotion 242
103 Don’t Give Too Much Away 244
104 Keep Your Ear to the Ground 246
105 Make the Opposition Seem Irreplaceable 248
106 Don’t Damn the Opposition with Faint Praise 250
107 Capitalize on the Career-Enhancing Moments 252
108 Cultivate the Friendship and Approval of Your Colleagues 254
Postscript: Know When to Break the Rules 256
About the Author :
Richard Templar is an astute observer of human behavior and understands what makes the difference between those of us who effortlessly glide towards success and those of us who struggle against the tide. He has distilled these observations into his Rules titles. More than 1 million people around the world have enjoyed and now play by Richard Templar's Rules.
