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Do you have what it takes to succeed in management? Do you think and act strategically to protect your position and gain advancement? Could you improve your performance in this area? This article will provide you with a number of tips to help you take the actions necessary to ensure your continued employment and organizational advancement.
Work is performed in a social and political environment. Your behaviors and attitudes are critical in this setting and in large measure will determine your success, accomplishments and career path trajectory. Many of the comments are based on conventional wisdom or time-tested business manager strategies, and are intended to help you make good decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
1. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
2. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. (reciprocity, favors, tradeoffs)
3. Birds of a feather flock together. (esp. informal groups)
4. Better to ask forgiveness than seek approval. (initiative, risk-taking)
5. What have you done for me lately? (don’t rest on laurels/past accomplishments)
6. Those that yell loudest are heard. (variation of “squeaky wheel)
7. Make something happen.
8. If you want to bark with the big dogs, don’t piss with the puppies.
9. Don’t burn your bridges.
10. Be careful who you piss off -you may end up working for them one day.
11. Kiss your boss’s ass – and kiss it a lot!
12. He who has the gold makes the rules.
13. Don’t shit where you eat.
14. Make someone happy. (cooperation, teamwork, helpfulness)
15. Toot your own horn! (don’t be bashful about your accomplishments)
16. Select your friends carefully.
17. Don’t trust anyone.
18. Don’t show all your cards.
19. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. (develop options)
20. Stay flexible.
21. Give the gift that keeps giving – insecurity.
22. The nail that sticks up gets pounded down. (Japanese saying)
23. The customer is usually wrong. (but treat them right)
24. Watch your backside. (business can be treacherous)
25. Success breeds success.
26. Power is where it’s at. (power lunches, power meetings, power apparel)
27. Lay low when the fighting starts.
28. Try to make your boss look good. (even if it seems impossible)
29. Image is everything.
30. Act as though you know!
It may be useful to review the list for areas where you may need to take action or use it as a periodic refresher. Often straightforward strategies and practical advice such as this is absent from traditional management textbooks. However, if you ask successful practicing managers they will nod their heads in agreement with most of these observations. And, I’m sure that you will find that these 30 recommendations will have applicability, value and relevance in your career.