The Rules of Work: The Unspoken Truth About Getting Ahead in Business (Richard Templar's Rules) (Paperback)

by Richard Templar (Author) "It's all too easy for your work to get overlooked in the busy hurly-burly of office life..." (more)
Key Phrases: Rules Player

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
For some people, work's a breeze: they glide effortlessly through all the office politics and back stabbing, always saying and doing the right thing, getting raises, getting promotions, getting results. What do they know that everyone else doesn't? The rules of work. Those rules are surprisingly easy to learn -- and once you know them, they're equally easy to live by. Now, Richard Templar's brought them all together in one place: the quick, irreverent The Rules of Work: A Definitive Guide to Personal Success. Templar doesn't just show you how to LOOK more effective: he shows you how to BE more effective in today's workplace environments. Discover how to get ahead without compromising your principles; how to project the air of confidence and energy that wins respect; how to carve out a powerful niche for yourself; how to handle conflict without alienating the warriors; how to read your corporate culture; when to speak and when to remain silent; when to stay late and when to leave early; and how to capitalize on the key moments that can supercharge your career. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From the Back Cover
For some people, work's a breeze: they glide effortlessly through all the office politics and back stabbing, always saying and doing the right thing, getting raises, getting promotions, getting results. What do they know that everyone else doesn't? The rules of work. Those rules are surprisingly easy to learn -- and once you know them, they're equally easy to live by. Now, Richard Templar's brought them all together in one place: the quick, irreverent The Rules of Work: A Definitive Guide to Personal Success. Templar doesn't just show you how to LOOK more effective: he shows you how to BE more effective in today's  workplace environments. Discover how to get ahead without compromising your principles; how to project the air of confidence and energy that wins respect; how to carve out a powerful niche for yourself; how to handle conflict without alienating the warriors; how to read your corporate culture; when to speak and when to remain silent; when to stay late and when to leave early; and how to capitalize on the key moments that can supercharge your career.

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Product Details

rules 1 through 5 of one of The Rules of Work [PDF]

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: FT Press (February 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131858386
• ISBN-13: 978-0131858381
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,906 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  Books > Business & Investing > Business Life > Motivation & Self-Improvement

• This item is part of The Rules of... Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Road Map , May 27, 2005

By	John G. Hilliard (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rules of Work by Richard Templar, February 24, 2005

By	Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile Words on the World of Work, June 12, 2006

By	Matthew Dodd (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

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)