Richard Templar - The Rules of Work (Summary): The Unspoken Truth About Getting Ahead in Business

Years ago author Richard Templar was working as an assistant manager. A managers job came open and, because Templar was the most experienced candidate with the greatest expertise, most of the staff supported him for the opening. They saw Rob, his rival for the job, as inept. Templar asked an outside consultant to assess his chances.

These rules are simple and effective, safe and practical. They are your 100 steps to building confidence and creating a new and more powerful you.

"Slim," the consultant said frankly, explaining. "You dont walk like a manager." Sure enough, although Rob was less qualified, he got the job. Templar had to admit that Rob walked like a manager. After that, Templar began to observe the unwritten rules of work studiously. He saw that managers did have a certain walk, and that they also had a managerial style of dressing and speaking. Some managers practiced the general managers walk, and some practiced the regional managers walk. Templar started practicing the general managers walk and in three months he was promoted over Rob to serve as general manager. The difference was that in addition to having the walk, Templar worked really hard to do his job well.

This is the underlying rule that governs all the others - know your job well, do it well and be better than anyone else at doing it.

Rules exist in every workplace. Those who learn to use them to their advantage are called "Rules Players." The rules are easy to learn and they will benefit you immediately. You dont have to become someone else to use them. But, most importantly, you still have to do your job and do it well to win a promotion. The rules include:

Walking your talk means doing your job well. If you dont master your job, following all of the other rules will be for naught. The rules on walking your talk include:

• "Get your work noticed" - Many workers disappear into their offices, not because they arent working hard, but because their work goes unnoticed. That wont do if you want to get ahead. The best way to attract notice is to transcend the routine. Do something extra. Give your boss an unsolicited report on how things could be done more efficiently. This shows tremendous initiative. Just dont overdo it, and be sure your idea works. To get noticed, write an article for the company newsletter.
• "Never stand still" - A lot of the activity at work isnt work. Its gossiping, talking, socializing and so forth. Most people just work for paychecks, but Rules Players want promotions. Spend any extra time preparing for your next job - essentially, practicing the managers walk. Keep moving. Engage in constant "secret learning."
• "Carve out a niche for yourself" - Find an unmet need in your office and fill it. You might create personal profiles of top customers, master a new computer program or learn arcane accounting procedures. Whatever it is, creating your own niche will take you out of the everyday hum-drum and will elevate you above other workers.
• "Enjoy what you are doing" - Rather than complain about your job, why not enjoy it? Tell yourself work is fun; that is the attitude of successful people.
• "Never let anyone know how hard you work" - Make the difficult look easy. Always look like youre in control, meet every deadline and never appear to sweat.

Others will constantly make judgments about you, based on how you dress, how you speak, the clothes you wear, the car you drive and the like. Its inescapable. The critical thing is to make sure youre in control, so their judgments will be positive. Heres how:

• "Dress well" - This rule must be obeyed. No matter how casual your office is, dont wear tennis shoes, blue jeans or loud Hawaiian shirts. Workplace attire is not a stage for demonstrating your artistic sensibilities or edgy fashion aesthetics.
• "No limp fish: develop the perfect handshake" - Exude confidence by being the first to extend your hand with a smile and a relaxed, self-assured air. Repeat the names of people you meet; their names are always music to their ears. When you introduce yourself, use your name with the formality of a business card. "Hello, Im John Walker, Sales Manager," will get you a lot further than, "Hi, Im John from sales."
• "Exude confidence and energy" - How you walk into the office in the morning really matters. Let others struggle in with wan, post-traffic jam expressions. A rules player enters the office with a spring in his or her step, confident that the work ahead will be a mere trifle. Be lively, smooth and in control, but not in a rush.
• "Develop a style that gets noticed" - Attractive people enjoy greater success. Style implies sophistication or class; it will make people pay attention. To develop a personal style, pick one thing, whether its Armani suits or a stylish collection of briefcases, and emphasize that element. Always buy the very best clothes you can afford. When in doubt, dress up instead of down. Wear less jewelry, but only the best.