Essential Rules from Richard Templar (Collection)

Richard Templar’s Rules books have already helped 1.3 million people become happier, more successful, and more fulfilled. His books include The Rules of Love, The Rules of Parenting, The Rules of Life, The Rules of Work, The Rules of Management, and How to Get What You Want...Without Having to Ask.

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