Customer Reviews

The Rules of Work: The Unspoken Truth About Getting Ahead in Business

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are looking for some good insights and perspectives from an experienced business manager about how to use the unwritten and unspoken rules of your workplace to your advantage, then you should read this book. Templar's 100 rules cover the gamut from what to wear and how to act to get noticed, to developing a career game plan. If you have never worked in an office environment, this book will help prepare you for what you will likely experience. If you have spent any time in an office environment, you will find many familiar situations to which you can relate.

The book is divided into ten parts (Walk Your Talk, Know That You're Being Judged at All Times, Have a Plan, If You Can't Say Anything Nice--Shut Up, Look After Yourself, Blend In, Act One Step Ahead, Cultivate Diplomacy, Know the System--and Milk It, Handle the Opposition), each with ten rules, that cover many important and sensitive aspects of virtually any work environment. Each rule is presented in two pages in a very conversational writing style that is generally easy to read.

I liked most of the content of the book. However, the book had way too many distracting spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors (including a 115-word sentence!) that detracted from the main points. Also, I found too many shady or questionable passages that seemed to contradict the rules they were describing or other rules:
-"You have to look as if you gossip without ever doing it." (from Rule 31--Don't Gossip)
-"But if in doubt--never lie or embellish if you can't think fast on your feet." (from Rule 44--Never Lie)
-"You don't need to volunteer information unless it directly helps you to do so...Sometimes it pays to be a little editorial with what truth you are giving out." (from Rule 47--Know the Difference Between the Truth and the Whole Truth)
-"If you need information and someone asks you why you need it, invent something entirely bogus...Don't lie, but you can be circumspect, devious, inventive, creative, eccentric, and you are allowed to set up a decoy." (from Rule 95--Don't Give Too Much Away)

Despite the book's shortcomings, I found many worthwhile points that either reinforced what I already knew or did, or that I am adapting into my overall style and behavior:
-"There is no bad karma in trying your hardest to be pleasant, cooperative, helpful, friendly, kind, and honest in your dealings with others around you." (from Rule 24--Develop a Game Plan)
-"Remember though what we said right from the outset--you have to be able to come up with the goods, you must be able to do the job--and do it well. That is the bottom line. If you can't do the job leave the stage." (from Rule 67--Walk the Walk)
-"You must work to live, not live to work. Don't take stuff home with you--learn to be assertive and say no. Put your family first. Spend time with your children--they will grow up so fast you will miss their precious childhood if you work your way through it...." (from Rule 80--Put Things in Perspective)
-"There are no bad jobs, only bad attitude to jobs." (from Rule 99--Capitalize on the Career-Enhancing Moments)

If ever there was a how to book on career success this has got to be it. This is a no nonsense and straight to the point book that covers the basics for a successful career. The book focuses on getting promoted or moving into a better position, but the rules are such that anyone can follow them and become better at your job. What gets me as while I was reading the book I kept thinking two thoughts. One was the fact that I kept thinking these rules are all common sense. The second was the number of the rules that I have seen broken or that I have broken.

Overall I found the book wonderful. It was informative and well written. It gets right to the point and does not get bogged down in long winded and marginally useful examples. The book can be read in one sitting and is the perfect companion for a road trip. This is one book you will find yourself reading multiple times.

This is an exemplary work on the details of getting ahead in
today's business environment. It incorporates some of
Andrew Carnegie's advice, as well as others in the human relations
art. Here are some of the more noteworthy pieces of advice :
- get your work noticed by management
- develop a niche or specific area of your expertise
- overdeliver what you promised
- make definitive commitments
- be cognizant of your attitude
- dress appropriately
- smile and extend your hand for a handshake
- exude energy and enthusiasm
- be cool
- speak well of others generally
- set realistic objectives
- keep copious records and notes
- understand the corporate culture and hierarchy
- speak in the "we" rather than the "I" mode
- don't get too personal
- study the opposition as well as proponents

All of the above advice will constitute important precepts for
the workplace. Naturally, the details of implementation will
differ for each employer or work setting. Nonetheless, the
general principles set forth by Templar are worthy of emulation.
The work is important, if you intend to advance in a workplace
of any size and complexity.

The domain of this book extends well beyond business. It is one of those books I wish I'd written myself, after having experience with a variety of mentors in different contexts, and mentoring myself.

The wisdom presented here is ageless and boundless. I would place it along with Bill O'Reilly's recent book as advice well presented for the young adult about to embark on the travails of life in the world of work, higher education, professional development, and life-decision making. Its admonitions are as useful for the neighborhood block party, the frat party, as for the boardroom and coffee room on the 24th floor of a New York highrise or the back room of a border security outpost.

It is well organized, and presently in a friendly, easy to read fashion that will make it a pleasant read on a several hour flight, train trip, or rainy afternoon when keeping up with the ESPN scores will do. Share it carefully--because its knowledge is the type that will help you succeed, but you don't necessarily want others to know where you gained its valuable insights--let them marvel at your acumen and skill in all social situation--which, as Templar points out, don't really exist, because any social situaiton is really one in which your merits and liabilities will be enumerated and judged by peers, superiors, and subordinates.

It incorporates also the accumulated wisdom of John Malloy's Dress for Success, imitated but never bettered--although the content here is much, much broader.

Highly recommended to all who wish to avoid unnecessary pitfalls in life.

Shortly after author Richard Templar started his career, a boss whom he despised relegated him to the menial job of taking the CEO his morning coffee. Templar used this assignment as an opportunity to chat with the CEO for five minutes each day. One day Templar recommended that the CEO assign his unpopular boss elsewhere in the company. Soon the hated boss was gone, and Templar had learned his first lesson about taking advantage of the unwritten rules of the office. Books like this tend to come across as reiterations of Machiavelli's 'The Prince', promoting stratagems that work only if you're willing to behave like a conniving finalist on 'Survivor'. Yet, this book is actually useable and it has an interesting twist: Templar says it's only for those who are willing to work harder than everyone else. He writes, "These rules are not for...posers. They are for the really industrious, the talented, the hardworking, the naturally gifted, those who are prepared to put in some effort and burn some oil." Templar's rules range from obvious to delightfully devious. He upholds ethical boundaries, however, and he's secure enough to lampoon himself to make a point. We recommend this fun, useful compendium to anyone who could use an official rulebook, spiced up with a little attitude, for the game of office politics.

This Templar should be knighted for his efforts. Career strategy guides certainly aren't a new concept, but Templar's concise, yet well-explored presentation educates and inspires the prepared reader to greatness.

With the proper PR campaign, 'Rules' can easily become a vital resource much like "The 48 Laws of Power". Read the sample. If you like that and are persuaded to buy the work, don't hesitate. It is worth it!

I really enjoyed reading this book. With every rule Richard Templar stated, I kept thinking of all the times that my father told me to "have a firm handshake" and "look them in the eye when you address them". The only fatherhood statements missing from Templar's work where "have a marketable skill" and "have a safe care to drive".

I would suggest this book to anyone, such as myself, who has been working in an office setting and who, also like myself, seems to just miss out on getting ahead. Plain and simple, work is a game. Know the rules of the game and you get to use them for your own benefit.

Most of Templar's points, are just obvious. Curiously Templar uses the word ain't throughout this book as if it's an acceptable word - spoken or written. Most of what he writes is about his experiences at his many jobs, telling me that this guy is either 125 years old or only keeps a job for a few months. Unless you have lived on an island by yourself, his points should have been something you learned growing up or watching tv.

Point 8, Enjoy what you are doing
Point 11, Dress well
Point 44, Never lie
Point 61, Dress one step ahead

He repeats points over and over with minor variation.

You can get better value, both time and money, from The Unwritten Laws of Business - W.J. King

While some of Templar's guidelines are common sense they are still worth reading. Others are much more insightful. Regardless, they provide a good starting point for someone looking to distinguish themselves from the pack.

The premise, however, is that you are already doing a good job and want to take the next step. It will tell you what to do, but no great detail on how to do it. Still, a worthwhile read for the price.

After reading Richard Templar's The Rules of Life: A Personal Code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Life, it seemed like the logical action to take and pick up his second "Rules" book because his first one contains common sense trinkets of pure wisdom that are immediately practical and usable.

The Rules of Work is also a collection of jewels to be learned and practiced.

We spend most of our lives at work therefore it makes sense to find methods to do our job more efficiently with less effort and better outcomes. However, this book isn't about working more efficiently but more effectively, seemingly rising to the top of the business, company or corporation (to our fellow workers at least) effortlessly, reaching our intended outcomes and goals

But what does the author mean by "rules"? Doesn't a job description, company policy or even the type of industry you're in already have rules to follow? The answer to this question is yes and no. These rules will not be found in any "starter kit', informing the new employee about break times, dental plans and where the bathrooms are located. These rules are about creating a new persona, the right attitude, being committed, putting in 100% without letting your fellow workers know how hard you really work.

Some of these "rules" appear like `work givens', for example taking care of one's appearance, dressing well, smiling, developing your own style and learning to speak well and write well. Similar to other `motivational business books', Templar also stresses the importance of having a stated plan, short term and long term, anticipating threats and spotting golden opportunities when they arise. This book really is about being smart, alert and always one step ahead of everyone else.

The key to any sort of success is actually naming what you want and creating a workable plan to attain that particular goal no matter whether the goal is becoming a millionaire, a better sales manager, teacher, doctor or priest. The second most important ingredient to any success is one's "desire". Ambition, drive, willingness to work effectively or one's will to simply become better at what we do and who we are comes down to how bad you want it. It doesn't matter how many courses you take or how many books you read, you have to really want something in order to attain it.

The Rules of Work contains many guidelines to help the ambitious worker get where they want to go, and if you have that necessary basic desire, this text will certainly help you along the way.