Rules of Work

Get ready to experience the Rules effect. Begin to get more out of life, shrug off adversity more easily and generally be a happier, calmer, more fulfilled person. You’ll feel the benefits, and so will everyone around you.

Richard Templar is the author of the international bestselling Rules books. Over 2 million people around the world have enjoyed and now play by Richard Templar's Rules. The complete list of titles is as follows: The Rules of Life, The Rules of Work, The Rules of Management, The Rules of Wealth, The Rules of Parenting, The Rules of Love, The Rules to Break, The Rules of People, The Rules of Thinking, and The Rules of Living Well. 

Walk your talk 1 Get your work noticed 2 Never stand still 3 Volunteer carefully 4 Carve out a niche for yourself 5 Under promise and over deliver 6 Learn to ask why 7 Be 100 per cent committed 8 Learn from others’ mistakes 9 Enjoy what you are doing 10 Develop the right attitude 11 Be passionate but don’t kill yourself 12 Manage your energy 13 Never let anyone know how hard you work 14 Keep your home life at home
Know that you’re being judged at all times 15 Cultivate a smile 16 No limp fish – develop the perfect handshake 17 Exude confidence and energy 18 Develop a style that gets you noticed 19 Pay attention to personal grooming 20 Be attractive 21 Be cool 22 Speak well 23 Write well
Have a plan 24 Know what you want long term 25 Know what you want short term 26 Study the promotion system 27 Develop a game plan 28 Set objectives 29 Know your role 30 Know yourself – strengths and weaknesses 31 Identify key times and events 32 Anticipate threats 33 Look for opportunities 34 Make learning a lifelong mission
If you can’t say anything nice – shut up 35 Don’t gossip 36 Don’t bitch 37 Stand up for others 38 Compliment people sincerely 39 Be cheerful and positive 40 Ask questions 41 Use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ 42 Don’t swear 43 Be a good listener 44 Only speak sense
Look after yourself 45 Know the ethics of your industry 46 Know the legalities of your industry 47 Set personal standards 48 Never lie 49 Never cover up for anyone else 50 Keep records 51 Know the difference between the truth and the whole truth 52 Cultivate your support/contacts/friends 53 Date with caution 54 Understand others’ motives 55 Assume everyone else is playing by different rules 56 Keep the faith 57 Put things in perspective
Blend in 58 Know the corporate culture 59 Speak the language 60 Dress up or down accordingly 61 Be adaptable in your dealings with different people 62 Make your boss look good 63 Know where to hang out, and when 64 Understand the social protocols 65 Know the rules about authority 66 Know the rules about the office hierarchy 67 Never disapprove of others 68 Understand the herd mentality
Act one step ahead 69 Dress one step ahead 70 Talk one step ahead 71 Act one step ahead 72 Think one step ahead 73 Address corporate issues and problems 74 Make your company better for having you there 75 Talk of ‘we’ rather than ‘I’ 76 Walk the walk 77 Spend more time with senior staff 78 Get people to assume you have already made the step 79 Prepare for the step after next
Cultivate diplomacy 80 Ask questions in times of conflict 81 Don’t take sides 82 Know when to keep your opinions to yourself 83 Be conciliatory 84 Never lose your temper 85 Never get personal 86 Know how to handle other people’s anger 87 Stand your ground 88 Be objective about the situation
Know the system – and milk it 89 Know all the unspoken rules of office life 90 Know what to call everyone 91 Know when to stay late and when to go early 92 Know the theft or perks rule 93 Identify the people who count 94 Be on the right side of the people who count 95 Be well up on new management techniques 96 Know the undercurrents and hidden agendas 97 Know the favourites and cultivate them 98 Know the mission statement – and understand it
Handle the opposition
99 Identify the opposition 100 Study them closely 101 Don’t back-stab 102 Know the psychology of promotion 103 Don’t give too much away 104 Keep your ear to the ground 105 Make the opposition seem irreplaceable 106 Don’t damn the opposition with faint praise 107 Capitalise on the career-enhancing moments 108 Cultivate the friendship and approval of your colleagues 109 Know when to break the Rules