The higher you climb in an organization, the more you need to think through each person’s motivations. Most people are very self-serving, as they should be. We aren’t working in a utopia – we are being paid. Everyone you interact with is building a career, influence, and ultimately power and job security. If you play…
Category: Co-Workers
Rule 41: A Pro dresses up on casual Friday
To an executive, this is how you look Monday through Thursday, milling about with your peers: To an executive, this is how you look on Friday, dressed awesome when the schlubs around you are looking “casual”: You’re welcome. ——-Author Update in 2024: This was originally written in 2012. The pandemic changed a lot of things….
Rule 37: A Pro stays sober-ish at the holiday party
Treat the holiday party as an enforced meeting where your goal is to be as charming as possible while remaining utterly forgettable. You are not charming when you are drunk, you just think you are. You are not forgettable when you are drunk, you just forget the things you did. No one, and I mean no…
Rule 26: Don’t underestimate inspiration
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Here’s a controversial statement – as a leader, your energy and belief in the project vision is more important…
Rule 21: A Pro isn’t afraid to tell other people what to do
The most frustrating repeated failure in meeting management is unclear accountability for actionable items. A simple – “Joe – you are going to take care of this by Tuesday, right?” is all it takes. A Pro gives every action item both a name and a date. Assuming you read the rules in order, you should…