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The Rules of Work

There are a lot of things I wish I’d known when I started my first job. There are certain unwritten rules that apply universally to all workplaces. Many people spend years learning these rules the hard way.

Others never learn and wonder what they are doing wrong – why they haven’t been promoted. After all, they’re technically great at their job and in a fair and just world would be running the department by now.

Unfortunately the world of work is not just and fair. The promotion doesn’t always go to the person who is technically best for the job. Other factors, like the way to speak to others, what you talk about, how you dress, how well you navigate the office politics and whose ass you kiss could all make or break your chances of success in the workplace.

Richard Templar’s Rules of Work is a book that takes a leaf right out of Machiavelli’s playbook. Some of the rules of work he sets out are a bit devious and might be more harmful than useful. However, there are some nuggets of wisdom included in his long list of rules.

I’ve condensed it down to 10 rules that I wish I had known when I first started working. I think these are particularly useful for recent college graduates.

Manage your energy

Energy management is more important than time management. Your energy is the most essential resource you have, and you have to manage it in the right way. To be efficient and productive, you’ll have to bring a lot of energy to what you do in work, and it’s your job to ensure your energy is there when it’s needed.

As well as managing your physical energy (by getting enough sleep, exercise. eating properly, not being hungover), you need to look after your mental and emotional energy.

Under promise but over deliver

Over promising but under delivering – I think we’ve all been there in our naive and eager attempts to please our bosses or managers.

Unfortunately, the situation often arises where we say yes to an unrealistically early deadline for a piece of work. It’s better to negotiate a longer delivery time in the first place than to have to let someone down.

Many people are so eager to be liked or praised that they will agree to the first delivery time offered to them. And then they fail to deliver. Failing to deliver on time is something that tends to stand out to other people. Even if your intentions are good and the deadline proposed was utterly unrealistic, this will not matter if you under deliver on your promises.

Don’t allow people to see how hard you actually work

Templar advises to appear as “suave, easy, relaxed, in control and very chilled”. For example, you should never rush, run or panic. If you’ve stayed up into the early hours of the morning to finish a project – don’t admit it to your boss or colleagues.

In order to appear in control of your work, you should never ask for the extension of a deadline, admit that you are out of your depth or complain that you have too much work to do. If you do, it’s likely that people will lose confidence in you.

Instead, learn how to be assertive, so you don’t get overloaded with work. You should also think about ways to cut down your workload (such as delegating) or finding ways to speed things up (of course without reducing the quality of your work).

Only Be Positive – If you can’t say anything nice then say nothing!

Many people fall into the trap of being negative about their workplace. In fact, a lot of people bond with others over their love of complaining about their boss, the company they work for or gossiping about their co-workers. Do not fall into this trap!

Don’t Gossip!

This doesn’t mean that you cannot listen. Just don’t pass it on or give your opinion. Gossip stops with you.

Never Complain!

It’s very easy to complain and we all like to let off steam about things that frustrate us. However, complaining will only make things worse, it’s de-motivational and leads to a vicious cycle.

When you feel the urge to complain about or bad mouth somebody, just imagine that they are standing behind you!

Never openly disapprove of others

This is a big no no in the work place. Negatively commenting on how other people spend their free time or money will quickly make you enemies.

Keep focused on your own path in life and learn to ignore what others are doing. By focusing on yourself, it is easier to refrain from making judgements about people. If you begin to be openly judgemental of others, you’ll categorise yourself in the eyes of others. This will ultimately make it harder for you to be flexible. In time, you may even end up pigeon holing yourself.

Stand your ground

Of course, being pleasant and positive to others in the workplace does not involve being a pushover or being walked on by others.

No one has the right to bully, harass or intimidate you. If you have slipped up or are not doing your job properly, you should be taken aside and spoken to in a professional manner. There are nearly always protocols in a company for this.

Standing your ground means having certain standards, or “lines in the sand” that you are not willing to put up with.

Get to know the corporate culture

Did you know that about 70% of dismissals are as a result of because the person did not follow the corporate culture, not because they couldn’t to their job?

Therefore it’s your job to become familiar with the corporate culture.

Speak the language

At times corporate speak will make you want to scream and pull your hair out. You might even think you’re above it. After all you’ve spent how many years in college refining your use of the English language, only to hear it butchered in meetings. However, in order to fit into the corporate culture, it’s necessary that you get to know the lingo and start to use it too!

It isn’t your job to educate them, re-educate them, edify them, inform them, teach them, give them a bit of class, drag them up, stop the dumbing-down process, or instruct them. Their corporate language is what you must speak.

Richard Templar, The Rules of Work
Dress Appropriately

Every workplace will have it’s own dress code (in my old office we even had a written policy because some people were taking “casual Friday” a bit too far).

However, if your workplace does have a smart casual dress code, this doesn’t mean that you should rock up wearing a FCUK t-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans. Just because you could does not mean that you should.

If you’re going to be taken seriously in any work environment, you need to dress the part. If you have your eye on the next step in the career ladder, the easiest thing to do it to observe how people more senior to you dress and copy them.

Act and speak like a boss… even before you are one

Adopt the mannerisms, attitudes, and managerial traits of the position above the one you currently hold. If you already look as if you’ve been promoted, chances are you will be.

Richard Templar, The Rules of Work

For example, speak in terms of “we” instead of “I”. A worker will speak from their own point of view and in their own personal interests. On the other hand a boss will speak on behalf of, and in the interests of the company.

More senior people are likely to engage in a less small talk and will discuss issues relating to the company. Also instead of thinking like a worker, think like a boss. Again, think about things from the point of view of the company. For example, ask questions like: “is this beneficial for the department?”; “will the company do well from this?”; or “in what way will this benefit customers?”.

Keep your ear to the ground

Templar says that an awful lot of people get left behind in their jobs, or passed over for promotion, because they spend too much time doing their job. This might seem counterintuitive, however, if you don’t pick your head up from your desk from time to time and see what’s going on, how are you supposed to make informed decisions or take your career plan in the right direction.

There are a number of tips on how to get “in the know” at your workplace:

  • Pay attention at meetings and read between the lines. It’s surprising how much you might pick up about what’s going on this way.
  • Use your contacts in other departments to see what’s happening across the organisation.
  • Keep an eye on the trade press. You may learn things there that might give you a competitive edge, like mergers, acquisitions, takeovers etc.
  • Find out who the “favourites” in the office are and cultivate a relationship with them. They’re likely to know things before the rest of the office does.

And remember… always keep things in perspective!

At the end of the day you need to remember that it’s just a job. It doesn’t equate to your health, your family, your children or your life. If it is as important as any of these things, you may have a big problem and need to re-evaluate your priorities.

If you experience a bad day at work, it should not impact your personal life. It shouldn’t cause you to loose sleep, become depressed, become irritable with your family/spouse, drink more or take drugs.

Make sure to spend time with your family and children. They’ll grow up in the blink of an eye and you’ll regret putting work ahead of them.

In a nutshell: work to live, not live to work.

If you liked this summary of The Rules Of Work, check out some other summaries of our favourite personal development, inspirational, motivational, practical psychology and business books here.

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