A career advisor explains why many talented, hard-working people often miss out on their full career potential, revealing the tells, blind spots, secrets, and unspoken rules you need to know in order to play the game to win. While many careers have been impacted by economic downturns, failed projects, downsizing and restructuring, or just bad bosses or bad timing, we all know of colleagues who continue to rise through every tough situation. Most assume that they have an advantage that protects them—degrees from the right schools, great mentors, influential friends and family, or just better luck. But these hyper-successful professionals have faced setbacks, too. Instead of allowing challenges to derail their rise, they’ve learned how to manage them better. In Workplace Poker , Dan Rust gives you the strategies you need to accelerate your career, and prevent setbacks from stalling your progress or spiraling it downward. The trick, he reveals, is to “play the game under the game,” to think more deeply and act more strategically. If you are talented, ambitious, and hardworking, but feel your career just isn’t accelerating as rapidly as it should, or as fast as you would like it to, this book is for you. If you have been frustrated to see others (less talented, who don’t work as hard as you do) achieve rapid professional progress while your career stalls out, this book is for you. If you’ve been annoyed by those who are successful primarily because of where they went to school, or family connections, or financial resources, this book is for you. Rust gives you the insight and skills you need to transform yourself and adapt and survive any hurdle—to turn every adversity into advantage, and every struggle into strength, • Recognition of your own “blind spots” and what to do about them • Mastering strategic and authentic self-promotion • Enhancing your personal charm and likeability • Achieving the high energy, both mental and physical, necessary to drive an exceptional career trajectory • Developing an interest in “corporate anthropology” and the complex human dimensions of business • Neutralizing the career-stalling impact of difficult or dysfunctional colleagues • Deeply “owning” and learning from career missteps and failures In his smart, funny, relatable voice, Rust shares stories of individuals who have applied these capabilities in real world situations, and provides short, focused exercises to help you think about yourself and your own career. With Workplace Poker ¸ you’ll learn how to get out of you own way, and find the success you deserve.
Dan Rust is the founder of Frontline Learning, an international publisher of corporate training resources. His award-winning keynote speeches and workshops focus on employee engagement, productivity and career management.
For more than 20 years Dan has been writing and speaking on a variety of career management topics. His blog at danrust.com focuses on ideas, skills and practical strategies to help you accelerate your career trajectory.
How can you support your capitalist enslavement like the good worker bee you are? Here is a how-to guide. This book is both useful and kind of horrifying. Its central theme is: embrace that workplaces are going to treat you like shit, because if you don’t then you’ll be moping / resenting in the dust while others pull themselves together and get ahead. The systemic issues highlighted in this book make a better case for unions than unions generally make for themselves. Do not think about the unfairness of being used up and spat out - this book advises. Use it as an opportunity to get one step ahead of those other suckers who let it bother them. Is this Workplace Poker or Workplace Game of Thrones? I’m not sure.
The excellent poker players watch more than the cards. They are keenly aware of the expressions and other elements of their fellow players and use this information to their advantage. WORKPLACE POKER gives important information for every reader to learn the details of how to pay more attention in their work environment. The stories and information is fascinating to me. I learned a great deal listening to this book cover to cover. In fact, I saw such value in this book that I purchased the print book to read it and review this valuable material. I highly recommend this title.
This is a book I wish it was published long ago and I'd read it then. I can see why this book might be dismissed as facile, pedantic or calculating, riding on human psychology. But for everyday survival at any kind of workplace, and to achieve more than that, we need all of the 'intuitive' ideas discussed in the book. Here are a few reasons why I loved the book:
1. The ideas are categorized across chapters and the ideas are elaborated with further sub-titling. The layout itself made it a breezy read. The mnemonics are pretty innovate: it is simple enough to remember the likes of Jane Goodall, Spock, Teflon Rhino, and Rubber Cat. 2. The anecdotes felt so real and palpable. I don't care even if the Author made up some or all of it. I, myself, have experienced a few of those, and a variant of most. 3. Except the very first chapter, which deals about office politics aka Human interaction/dynamics, which I suck at, all the other chapters were very fast moving. For me, they embodied all the problems that I keep complaining about. 4. The first and second chapters, though, disillusioned me from thinking about co-workers in binary. 5. Toot-your-horn feels intuitive or redundant (on how you see it) but real-life corporate world is not interested in watching the productivity of an individual so much as his/her lack of perceived value. 6. Now, whenever I encounter a rude coworker or a sleazy teammate who steals other people's work, thanks to this book, I know how to deal with it and even take it as an opportunity for standing out. 7. It beautifully explained how and why we lose our fire in our dream job. 8. Though the characters in the anecdotes are mostly upper management, the situations apply to people at all stages of career.
And much more! Despite the title of the book and the purported tone of the first 2 chapters, the book's overall message is heavily leaning on how to be a decent human being and not to be gullible at the same time.
This covered a lot of things which were overlooked and elusive, and opened the mind's eye. This is not a self-help book but rather a reference or even a corporate career cookbook. I am really glad I stumbled onto this book, especially at a point when I was feeling my career is at crossroads. I already see tangible results from the new outlook gained from this book. And this helped to lay out the plans, short and long-term, to advance it. Overall, a practical book finely written for today’s corporate dynamics.
One of the best career books I've ever read, hands down.
Unlike other career advancement books, Workplace Poker covers more than just what to do when you're on the job.
What I get from it: proposes a balanced approach, one that kind of denies the existence of a work-life balance because, instead, you should go for a balanced life that includes work and non-work, and both of those things should flow easily into one another. If you're getting burnt out, you're doing it wrong. If you're not advancing in your career, you're doing it wrong.
This means that instead of talking about how to look good to the boss, how to interview, and so on, Dan Rust talks about how to make decisions, manage your actions and reactions, and how to build a life that supports the career you want. There's even talk about staying fit and healthy, and how it impacts your career.
This book was immensely readable for me. It was funny, but not obnoxiously so. There were stories that drew me in and made me raise my eyebrows, but moreover, illustrated his points. He was approachable and knowledgeable as an author. I finished the book with several action steps I'm implementing immediately, as well as a solution to a work problem I thought was never going to be solved. For those 2 reasons alone, it's worth 5 stars. But there's more to Workplace Poker than those 2 reasons, so everyone should read it. Really.
If you measure the few actionable insights I took from this book vs the short amount of time it took to read it, the comparison is not so bad. When you think about how valuable it could have been if all 200 pages were filled with thoughtful insight, it brings a different perspective.
The author pairs his insights with anecdotes from his career as a corporate trainer. I didn't connect with the anecdotes at all so I stopped reading them about halfway through and I'm glad I did. This book is filled with mostly generic, common sense that we've heard time and again: eat clean, work out, pay attention to your colleagues and their mannerisms (you might think you already do, but really focus on it), dress well, "be likeable", get outside of your comfort zone because that's where you grow, etc. It's good to have reminders of this stuff and I did benefit from some of it, other times it was too vague or unapplicable to a corporation with a positive culture.
For anyone working in a corporation or working for anyone else this book is required reading. I had always been frustrated with my inability to jump to a level at or above the supervisory level until I started reading this book. This book has single-handedly helped me to earn for promotions and tens of thousands of dollars in raises over the past 5 years.
Sure, it's not a perfect book, and it may not be for everyone, but I believe that almost anyone will pull something out of this book.
I even listen to this book about every year or so oh, and I pull something new out of this book every single time.
Easy read. The advice is practical and the stories are relatable. The value of the advice is probably closer to 4 stars because of its practicality, though the book overall feels a bit forgettable, hence a 3-star rating. Overall, a small investment of time that was well spent.
CORE - เนื้อหา (4 ดาว) หนังสือแบ่งเป็น 8 บท ไล่เรียงเรื่องราวจากการให้ฝึกสังเกต หมั่นทำความเข้าใจพฤติกรรมคนในองค์กร เตรียมตัวเข้าสนาม ปรับตัวรับมือ หรือรับแรงกระแทก เติมพลัง ปรับทัศนคติ การฝึกฝนการแสดงออกเพื่อเป็น promoter ให้ตัวเอง การบริหารเสน่ห์ ฯ ในทุกบทจะมีสรุปใน format ให้คิด (Think now) ให้ทำ (Act soon) และ วางแผน (Long-term thoughts and Action points) ซึ่งดีมากในการกลับมาทบทวนได้ง่าย ในประเด็นสำคัญ เนื้อหาจะไม่ได้มาพูดถึงทฤษฏี หรือแนะนำอะไรโดยขาดที่มา แต่แนะนำสิ่งต่างๆ จากตัวอย่างที่ผู้เขียนได้เจอมาจากบุคคลต่างๆ เหมือนมานั่งเล่า และย่อยสรุปให้ฟัง บทที่ผมชอบเป็นการส่วนตัวคือบทที่ 2 Battle in a Minefield ซึ่งจะเริ่มจากก��รเตือนทุกคนก่อนในเรื่องการมองความสัมพันธ์ใน office กับเรื่อง loyalty ต่อองค์กรนั้น เราต้องเข้าใจมันจริงๆ ก่อนว่ามันตั้งอยู่บนสถานะแบบไหน (Always positive, but realistic) At work there are no friends or enemies, just imperfect people trying to do their jobs well. ประโยคสำคัญในการเตือนตนเวลาต้องทำงานร่วมกับคนที่เราอาจจะไม่ได้สะดวกใจนัก "It takes a mature person to smile and engage positively with an individual you know has been backstabbing you. But it takes an exceptionally mature and confident person to deal productively with a whole group of backstabbers." ผู้เขียนได้แจกแจงลักษณะของวัฒนธรรมองค์กรออกเป็น 5 แบบ และการปรับตัวให้เหมาะกับแบบนั้น น่าสนใจดีครับ ยกตัวอย่างเช่น The Coliseum Culture เป็นลักษณะการแข่งขันส���ง คัดคนแพ้ รั้งท้ายออก ถ้าเราอยู่ในที่แบบนี้คงต้องจับตาดู Scoreboards ไว้ให้ดี และ make sure ว่ามีอีกสักสองสามคนรั้งท้ายที่ไม่ใช่เรา กลยุทธสำคัญนี้เรียกว่า "Canaries in the coal mine" Canaries in the coal mine คือ ในสมัยก่อนคนงานเหมืองจะนำ นกคีรีบูน ลงไปทำงานด้วยในเหมือง เพราะเมื่อไหร่ที่มี gas พิษ หรืออากาศเสียมากขึ้น นกจะตายก่อน และเป็นสัญญาณให้คนงานหนีได้ทัน อีกบทที่ชอบเป็นพิเศษคือ Velcro Butterflies and Teflon Rhinos พูดถึงบุคคลิกของเราว่าจะเลือกเป็น คนที่ sensitive ต่อพวก negative comments/ actions หรือการโดนปฏิเสธ โดยสิ่งเหล่านั้นจะเกาะติดกินใจเราไปนานแบบ Velcro Butterflies หรือตรงกันข้ามเราอาจจะเป็น Teflon Rhinos ที่สามารถมองข้าม หรือไม่ยึดติดกับสิ่งต่างๆ ที่มากระทบ หรือไม่ง่ายที่จะมีเรื่องอะไรเล็ดรอดผิวหนาๆ เข้ามาทำร้ายความรุ้สึกได้ง่าย บทนี้ยังพูดถึงการรับมือกับคนที่ทำงานด้วยยาก การถูกนินทาว่าร้าย การเผชิญหน้ากับการโดนกระทำในรูปแบบต่างๆ สนุกดีครับ
Whenever I'm asked at interviews who was my favourite manager, I always look back to one of my first managers who I will probably always look up to and respect. He had this way about him where he didn't just do a fantastic job but he had this amazing ability to navigate the work place politics, analyse precisely what was going on and how we should play things.
I was so amazed at this magical ability, I looked to emulate in any way possible but had no idea where to begin. I looked into his career history and saw his sales experience. I would read everything I could on sales and go on sales training, not that I was pursuing a career in sales but whether in what was taught revealed his secrets... It didn't.
It was only when I read this book that I began to understand his secrets! This book reveals how to get the edge in the workplace, develop your awareness skills and ultimately hell your career. Workplace Poker will help to build your corporate awareness to not only survive office politics but to develop you as a person. Reading it made me feel like I had tapped into my managers brain and learnt his superpower.
Of all the career advice books I have read. This one is probably the most useful by far in terms of practical advice. Not just the standard have goals, have a CV etc but stuff that you can use on a daily basis. Well worth a read!
Consejo general: "Sé como Tony". ¿Quién diablos es Tony? Tony es tu vecino de oficina que le cae bien todo el mundo y que se entera de todos los chismes dentro y fuera de la oficina. En general, buenas ideas, salvo algunos capítulos que caen en lo ofensivo. Estoy pensando especialmente en un capítulo dedicado a predicar el mantra individualista que afirma que siempre puedes hacer algo para mejorar tu posición. También estoy pensando en ese otro capítulo que predica aquello de "no te quejes". ¿Por qué ofensivo? Queda claro que si te interesa leer un libro de estos asuntos también en cierto nivel crees que se puede entrenar la capacidad de discernir o diagnosticar los problemas en el ámbito laboral y ampliar la caja de herramientas para responder a estos. Pero de ahí a sugerir que no existe la mala suerte me parece una exageración.
Good read, I won't feel bad to recommend it to my friends, although some people say it talks about dirty tricks (the strategies are actually fine and within parameters). A few key areas I learned from this book include: read people, navigate unique culture, take extreme ownership, keep youthful vitality, cope with rejections and have a right amount of self promotion. Some content and ideas of this book share similarities with ideas from other books, however, I find it still helpful to read the same ideas from a different perspective and a different voice. One valuable aspect of this book is that its insights are actionable. We can talk about mindset all day long, but we need actionable items to really make changes.
Most of the information is pretty standard in the self-help / self improvement genre, so if you've read a lot of other books in the genre this might not be all that groundbreaking (it reminded me a lot of Choose Yourself by James Altucher).
However, it is helpful to hear about some of those principles applied in a work setting (especially if you are new to the office environment or employment in general / have been working for a while and finding yourself in a rut).
If you don't read many self improvement books and are an employee you'll find good information and anecdotes in this book.
Highly readable book that has a lot of good stories and discussion on how to not tank your career and instead boost it up. The conversational tone makes it a quick read but I think it's worth digesting some of the topics more carefully. The examples ranged from struggling CEOs to regular salespeople. It discusses the ways you can take control of your career by being more self-aware and aware of the work culture that you're in. The hard part, of course, is putting it into action. If you're already fairly self-aware or have read up on career advice elsewhere this book might not have a lot of new insights but it's still got some good points worth rehashing.
Don't let the title throw you, this is about presenting your best self in the workplace. I'm reading books like this now because I'm realizing the small things I could have done along my career that would have helped, such as self-promotion, which Rust talks about. I was never ambitious, but now I'm looking at the next five years and I don't want to be pushing 50 and in the same place, so I'm becoming more ambitious inevitably. I'm one who had never tooted my own horn, but that is changing. Rust also talks about different workplace cultures and fitting in, gives many examples of workers having problems/challenges and how they fixed it or not.
I found this book through Google search when looking for books similar to 48 Laws of Power, and I am so glad to have found this. This book is a gem particularly for those who are in middle management. It has so many practical insights - how to be "teflon rhino", how to build career performance portfolio, white-boarding, how to respond in a crisis, etc. Along-with select other books, this book has been a great value-add for me and would help me make meaningful progress in workplace & in life. 5 stars.
Filled with fat phobic antidotes about how “not losing the baby weight” will negatively affect your career. I really could have gone without all that. Literally people’s weight gain is used as an example of failure…… hopefully if this is ever republished he could clear some of that unnecessary stuff out. Feeding into fat phobia isn’t helping the workplace become more diverse. Disappointed… wanted to learn more “soft skills” and came out knowing this guy hates fat people. Cool. Giving two stars though because the cover design is just too good
I'd like to give this a 4.5, but that's not an option. It slogged down a bit for me in the section on taking care of yourself physically for the good of your career - having enough energy, making a good impression, and all that, but a lot of people do need to hear that. He also contradicted himself sometimes, but I enjoyed the real-life stories and the humor. All-around excellent advice, and I'll be following his blog.
This is the book I've been missing my whole life - how to do well at work in all aspects other than core responsibilities. Self-promotion? Being observant? Working well with others? Taking care of opportunities? Overcoming adversity? The book covers all this, and more. Very well-written and enthralling.
A good read on resilience and office environment/politics. Reasonably engaging and common sense filled, the author uses a wide variety of vignettes and examples to bring the book alive and make the situations described more relatable. You have the ability to play the game, but need to be able to bounce back from a few bad hands along the way.
Pretty generic advice. I found nothing new here, and I'm hardly 'advanced career guy'. That said, some of the anecdotes were very insightful, or at least entertaining. I can't believe some of the stuff that goes on in the world.