Rules give us a track to run on and a way of handling things no matter the situation, style or approach another takes.  We are in charge of ourselves and our actions rather than “re-acting” as they come up.  Without firm rules we tend to respond in ways that are not only unproductive but often as poor as the situation challenging us—childish, immature and capable of making the atmosphere at work both ruder and cruder.  Spontaneity often works in love and family situations—not as often at work.  Basing these rules on core principles (see The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People for more on this concept) makes sense rather than a shallow need to get an upper hand or win against others.

I am really curious what people think of this concept of having a set of rules to work by—so write me if you want to after each one—or after one that particularly get you thinking.   Or, send me YOUR rules or additions/subtractions.   I am completely convinced based on my own experience and those of thousands of others that I am and you will be 100% more effective if you develop a set of rules and follow them consistently.

My rules—a blog on each one will follow with more detail and explanation.

• Rule ONE: Begin with the end in mind before you act, speak, approach people, participate in any meeting or interact with others.
• Rule TWO: Take personal responsibility and be accountable for all your actions— but don’t take responsibility that is not yours.
• Rule THREE: The client/customer or person in authority is not always right—they are sometimes terribly wrong and it is more than OK to tell them that—politely of course.  But sometimes you don’t want to do this because of rule ONE.
• Rule FOUR: Less is almost always more.  There is one major exception—MORE praise and support for others is always more.
• Rule FIVE: Use HALT—don’t write the email, make the call, walk over and see someone or send the text if you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired.
• Rule SIX: Ask for and take feedback graciously as often as is possible and always more than you want to—this is the hardest rule to keep going as you age, get promoted, or otherwise develop in your career.
• Rule SEVEN: Be more polite, old fashioned, gracious and appropriate than you may want to be or feel you need to be.
• Rule EIGHT: Lighten up and don’t take yourself so seriously—be professional not frozen, staged, aloof or condescending—this is especially true when you are working with others you think are “beneath you” in some way—a “subordinate”, a person selling to you or who is a vendor of yours or someone you mistakenly think “doesn’t count”.
• Rule NINE: Know in your heart most (that is at 80%) of things people say and do are not about you—really!
• Rule TEN: Treat people the way they want to be treated NOT the way you are comfortable or want to be treated—if you do one thing well, make it this.

 And finally, remember this—-Business is always personal despite the constant insistence that it is not.  Act accordingly with sensitivity and consideration for others.  Don’t ever say—“this isn’t personal “—you are already contradicting yourself and sounding hallow.