The Rules of Work

Today just being good at your job, at what you do, is not enough if you want to be really successful. You need more than that. You need an ‘image’. It’s not just how you do your work, but also how others perceive what you are doing. It’s true that performance appraisals today are subjective in nature and are largely impression driven. My manager once pointed out a colleague who was walking past us hurriedly, with some files in her hand. He asked me what I thought of her at that exact moment. I replied that she looked busy, might be on the way to some meeting. He said “highlight the word ‘look’. We don’t know if she was going to a meeting, or was just walking by hurriedly. It is just our assumption”. I had read Richard Templar’s ‘The Rules of work’ earlier, but this example drove the point well. It was time for a re-read. I needed an image. In my limited experience, I found some rules truly worked. I wanted to share them here with my own twist.

• Dress your best: It’s the most noticeable thing about you. If you relax your guard even for a day, it’ll be noticeable. There no exceptions, no days off.
  • Pay attention to personal grooming – details matter. Shoes shined? Clothes ironed? Freshly showered? Deo in place? Facial hair shaved? Nails removed? Hands clean & dry? Do you use enough mint if you smoke? etc.. Pick the best, the smartest, the most stylish, the most fashionable clothes to wear.
  • What do you have in your hand? An organizer? A phone? A PDA? A notebook? A pen? A bag? Make sure it is in sync with the image you want to project. Carry the best organizer, the best phone/PDA, the best notes, the best pen, the best bag – nothing related to you should look cheap.
  • Dress one step ahead – If you observe, some designations have certain dress code expected out of them. No one enforces that code, but, you’ll expect a person in that level to dress in such and such way. Similarly, observe what your next level needs. Copy that dress code now and start dressing that way.
• Write well: While writing watch your grammar, your spellings, consistent fonts, proper margins, clear formatting. Check if the intended message to the recipient is clear. Nothing puts a reader off than a badly constructed sentence and incomprehensive content.
• Speak well: Speak clearly and grammatically correct language – no mumbling, no accents, not softly nor quickly. Speak crisply, and pleasantly. People remember when you speak well. So will they, when you don’t.
• Speak sense: Speak only when there’s a point – Don’t blabber. When you speak sense you’ll come across as mature, wise, sophisticated, reliable & trustworthy person. Once, you’ve created that impression, people will come to you for advices. You’ve naturally set yourself a notch above them.
• Know your work inside out: There can be no compromise in this. No matter how good an image you create, if you don’t know your work, people will see through your facade very easily. Know your work inside out. Be known as a subject matter expert
• Under promise, over deliver: If you know you can do it in two hours, say three. And deliver it in the agreed time. Never deliver late. You’ll come across as incompetent. Instead, add up the contingency time beforehand while agreeing on a deadline. And, complete it no matter what.
• Talk one step ahead: The more senior you are the less likely that you’ll gossip, chatter inanely, curse, talk about TV/movies, or speak without thinking. Start doing it now. Become slightly aloof (by mark of experience, skill & natural ability), withdrawn, mature and responsible. Don’t be arrogant or talk down to people.
• Act one step ahead: Show the next level’s demonstrated ability now. It’s one criteria for promotions. Start inculcating what is needed for that level right from now. Observe how your boss (or a well respected leader in your workplace) enters, the way he talks to staff, the way he answers the phone, holds his pen, sits up & sits down. If you notice they’ll move differently from the juniors. Can you copy? Create your own distinctive style? Start working on the responsibilities expected out of you in the next level from now. But, don’t overdo it, you’ll be percieved as overbearing.
• Become indispensable; but never irreplaceable: Be the best one can be in your present role. But, create an impression that you’ll be able to handle the next level excellently than this. So that, you are not dispensable and replaceable.
• Know the power people & be on their right side: Your manager might not be the person to finalize your promotion. Then who does? Is it his boss? Or does your manager rely on a long term employee in your team and take his opinions? Know them & be in their good books.
• Don’t give too much away: Don’t let anyone know the intent behind your actions. If you do, you give the opposition an unfair advantage. You are liable to gossip, rumor. Keep your own counsel. Be diplomatic enough to escape out of tricky situations.
• Never let your hair down at work – Especially at work parties – Remember you are ALWAYS being watched. One drunken blabber can land you in major trouble. People will never forget how you danced, with whom you danced, what you did, everything. They’ll always see you through these impressions from then.
• It’s not how much you’ve worked, but, how much people know you’ve worked: Toot your own horn; but not blatantly.

I’ve barely scratched the surface. Please read Richard Templar’s “The rules of work” for further tips.