Table of Contents
The Rules of Management, Expanded Edition: A Definitive Code for Managerial Success
Part I Managing Your Team 1
1 Get Them Emotionally Involved 4
2 Know What a Team Is and How It Works 6
3 Set Realistic Targets—No, Really Realistic 8
4 Hold Effective Meetings 10
5 …No, Really Effective 12
6 Make Meetings Fun 14
7 Make Your Team Better Than You 16
8 Know Your Own Importance 18
9 Set Your Boundaries 20
10 Be Ready to Prune 22
11 Offload as Much as You Can—or Dare 24
12 Let Them Make Mistakes 26
13 Accept Their Limitations 28
14 Encourage People 30
15 Be Very, Very Good at Finding the Right People 32
16 Hire Raw Talent 34
17 Take the Rap 36
18 Give Credit to the Team When It Deserves It 38
19 Get the Best Resources for Your Team 40
20 Celebrate 42
21 Keep Track of Everything You Do and Say 44
22 Be Sensitive to Friction 46
23 Create a Good Atmosphere 48
24 Inspire Loyalty and Team Spirit 50
25 Have and Show Trust in Your Staff 52
26 Respect Individual Differences 54
27 Listen to Ideas from Others 56
28 Adapt Your Style to Each Team Member 58
29 Let Them Think They Know More Than You (Even if They Don’t) 60
30 Don’t Always Have to Have the Last Word 62
31 Understand the Roles of Others 64
32 Ensure People Know Exactly What Is Expected of Them 66
33 Have Clear Expectations 68
34 Use Positive Reinforcement Motivation 70
35 Don’t Try Justifying Stupid Systems 72
36 Be Ready to Say Yes 74
37 Train Them to Bring You Solutions, Not Problems 76
Part II Managing Yourself 79
38 Work Hard 82
39 Set the Standard 84
40 Enjoy Yourself 86
41 Don’t Let It Get to You 88
42 Know What You Are Supposed to Be Doing 90
43 Know What You Are Actually Doing 92
44 Value Your Time 94
45 Be Proactive, Not Reactive 96
46 Be Consistent 98
47 Set Realistic Targets for Yourself—No, Really Realistic 100
48 Have a Game Plan, but Keep It Secret 102
49 Get Rid of Superfluous Rules 104
50 Learn from Your Mistakes 106
51 Be Ready to Unlearn—What Works, Changes 108
52 Cut the Crap—Prioritize 110
53 Cultivate Those in the Know 112
54 Know When to Kick the Door Shut 114
55 Fill Your Time Productively and Profitably 116
56 Have a Plan B and a Plan C 118
57 Capitalize on Chance—Be Lucky, but Never Admit It 120
58 Recognize When You’re Stressed 122
59 Manage Your Health 124
60 Be Prepared for the Pain and Pleasure 126
61 Face the Future 128
62 Head Up, Not Head Down 130
63 See the Forest and the Trees 132
64 Know When to Let Go 134
65 Be Decisive, Even if It Means Being Wrong Sometimes 136
66 Adopt Minimalism as a Management Style 138
67 Visualize Your Plaque 140
68 Have Principles and Stick to Them 142
69 Follow Your Intuition 144
70 Be Creative 146
71 Don’t Stagnate 148
72 Be Flexible and Ready to Move On 150
73 Remember the Object of the Exercise 152
74 Remember That None of Us Has to Be Here 154
75 Go Home 156
76 Keep Learning—Especially from the Opposition 158
77 Be Passionate and Bold 160
78 Plan for the Worst, but Hope for the Best 162
79 Let the Company See You Are on Its Side 164
80 Don’t Bad-Mouth Your Boss 166
81 Don’t Bad-Mouth Your Team 168
82 Accept that Some Things Bosses Tell You to Do Will Be Wrong 170
83 Accept That Bosses Are as Scared as You Are at Times 172
84 Avoid Straitjacket Thinking 174
85 Act and Talk as if One of Them 176
86 If in Doubt, Ask Questions 178
87 Show You Understand the Viewpoint of Underlings and Overlings 180
88 Add Value 182
89 Don’t Back Down—Be Prepared to Stand Your Ground 184
90 Don’t Play Politics 186
91 Don’t Criticize Other Managers 188
92 Share What You Know 190
93 Don’t Intimidate 192
94 Be Above Interdepartmental Warfare 194
95 Show That You’ll Fight to the Death for Your Team 196
96 Aim for Respect Rather Than Being Liked 198
97 Do One or Two Things Well and Avoid the Rest 200
98 Seek Feedback on Your Performance 202
99 Maintain Good Relationships and Friendships 204
100 Build Respect—Both Ways—Between You and Your Customers 206
101 Go the Extra Mile for Your Customers 208
102 Be Aware of Your Responsibilities 210
103 Be Straight at All Times and Speak the Truth 212
104 Don’t Cut Corners—You’ll Get Discovered 214
105 Find the Right Sounding Board 216
106 Be in Command and Take Charge 218
107 Be a Diplomat for the Company 220
End Game 222
The Rules of Work, Expanded Edition: A Definitive Code for Personal Success
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
The Rules of Life, Expanded Edition: A Personal Code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Life
Introduction viii
Part I Rules for You 1
1 Keep It Under Your Hat 4
2 You’ll Get Older But Not Necessarily Wiser 6
3 Accept What Is Done Is Done 8
4 Accept Yourself 10
5 Know What Counts and What Doesn’t 12
6 Dedicate Your Life to Something 14
7 Be Flexible in Your Thinking 16
8 Take an Interest in the Outside World 18
9 Be on the Side of the Angels, Not the Beasts 20
10 Only Dead Fish Swim with the Stream 22
11 Be the Last to Raise Your Voice 24
12 Be Your Own Adviser 26
13 No Fear, No Surprise, No Hesitation, No Doubt 28
14 I Wish I’d Done That--and I Will 30
15 It’s OK to Give Up 32
16 Count to Ten--or Recite “Baa Baa Black Sheep” 34
17 Change What You Can Change; Let Go of the Rest 36
18 Aim to Be the Very Best at Everything You Do--Not Second Best 38
19 Don’t Expect to Be Perfect 40
20 Don’t Be Afraid to Dream 42
21 If You’re Going to Jump Off a Bridge, Make Sure You Know How Deep the Water Is 44
22 Don’t Dwell on the Past 46
23 Don’t Live in the Future 48
24 Get on With Life--It’s Whooshing Past 50
25 Be Consistent 52
26 Dress Like Today Is Important 54
27 Have a Belief System 56
28 Leave a Little Space for Yourself Each Day 58
29 Have a Plan 60
30 Have a Sense of Humor 62
31 Choose How You Make Your Bed 64
32 Life Can Be a Bit Like Advertising 66
33 Get Used to Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone 68
34 Learn to Ask Questions 70
35 Have Dignity 72
36 It’s OK to Feel Big Emotions 74
37 Keep the Faith 76
38 You’ll Never Understand Everything 78
39 Know Where True Happiness Comes From 80
40 Life Is a Pizza 82
41 Know When to Let Go--When to Walk Away 84
42 Retaliation Leads to Escalation 86
43 Look After Yourself 88
44 Maintain Good Manners in All Things 90
45 Prune Your Stuff Frequently 92
46 Remember to Touch Base 94
47 Draw the Lines Around Yourself 96
48 Shop for Quality, Not Price 98
49 It’s OK to Worry, or to Know How Not To 100
50 Stay Young 102
51 Throwing Money at a Problem Doesn’t Always Work 104
52 Think for Yourself 106
53 You Are Not in Charge 108
54 Have Something in Your Life That Takes You Out of Yourself 110
55 Only the Good Feel Guilty 112
56 If You Can’t Say Anything Nice, Don’t Say Anything at All 114
Part II Partnership Rules 117
57 Accept the Differences, Embrace What You Have in Common 120
58 Allow Your Partner the Space to Be Themselves 122
59 Be Nice 124
60 You Want to Do What? 126
61 Be the First to Say Sorry 128
62 Go That Extra Step in Trying to Please Them 130
63 Always Have Someone--or Something--That Is Pleased to See You 132
64 Know When to Listen and When to Act 134
65 Have a Passion for Your Life Together 136
66 Make Sure Your Love Making Is Making Love 138
67 Keep Talking 140
68 Respect Privacy 142
69 Check You Both Have the Same Shared Goals 144
70 Treat Your Partner Better Than Your Best Friend 146
71 Contentment Is a High Aim 148
72 You Don’t Both Have to Have the Same Rules 150
Part III Family and Friends Rules 153
73 If You Are Going to Be a Friend, Be a Good Friend 156
74 Never Be Too Busy for Loved Ones 158
75 Let Your Kids Mess Up for Themselves--They Don’t Need Any Help from You 160
76 Have a Little Respect and Forgiveness for Your Parents 162
77 Give Your Kids a Break 164
78 Never Lend Money Unless You Are Prepared to Write It Off 166
79 Keep Quiet 168
80 There Are No Bad Children 170
81 Be Up Around People You Love 172
82 Give Your Kids Responsibilities 174
83 Your Children Need to Fall Out with You to Leave Home 176
84 Your Kids Will Have Friends You Don’t Like 178
85 Your Role as a Child 180
86 Your Role as a Parent 182
Part IV Social Rules 185
87 We’re All Closer Than You Think 188
88 It Doesn’t Hurt to Forgive 190
89 It Doesn’t Hurt to Be Helpful 192
90 What’s in It for Them? 194
91 Hang Out with Positive People 196
92 Be Generous with Your Time and Information 198
93 Get Involved 200
94 Keep the Moral High Ground 202
95 Just Because You Have, Doesn't Mean They Have Too 204
96 Do Compare Yourself with Other People 206
97 Have a Plan for Your Career 208
98 Look at the Long-Term Ramifications of What You Do for a Living 210
99 Be Good at Your Job 212
100 Be Aware of the Damage You Are Doing 214
101 Be for the Glory, Not the Degradation 216
102 Be Part of the Solution, Not the Problem 218
103 Check What History Would Say About You 220
104 Not Everything Can Be Green 222
105 Put Something Back 224
106 Find a New Rule Every Day--or Occasionally at Least 226
