Corporate Etiquette Cheat Sheet - Thriving In The Corporate World
Corporate Etiquette Cheat Sheet - Thriving In The Corporate World
95: Focus on what brings results.
Welcome reader! No, this is not standard corporate etiquette that Stacy from HR will hand you out. We will not be laying out the dress code either - we hope you don’t work in one of those (except for our finance readers). Inspired by the BowtiedBroke Twitter post, we have decided to give our take on Corporate Etiquette. Better said…
Principles you should follow to get the most out with the least input.
The corporate cheat sheet presented here is not magic. But it will help you in the long run while moving up the career ladder. Like other principles we preach, it comes down to being as efficient as possible and understanding what moves you up. If you still think getting promoted is all about being a good performer, you are in for a wake-up call.
Getting promoted is not about that.
Corporate World
The corporate world is beautiful, but you must have the stomach for it. Beautiful? Let us clarify some things. Rarely will you be given a position where you can practice social dynamics and learn how the business world works. The best part about it?
You are getting paid to do so.
Yes, you are trading your time for the money. Yes, things are changing rapidly - we have yet to see how technological advancement will affect average jobs. The corporate world is not as attractive to modern kids as it was to some of us. We are unsure whether it's because back in the day, you had dangerous, mean-looking guys in the suites as your "career idols" or everyone else realizes that it’s easier to make money dancing to the TikTok trends - making bozo out of yourself. The truth is in the middle, and we can’t blame anyone.
Those we used to look up to look proper even when their time had ended.
No one should be surprised why the popularity of corporate careers went down. The internet has allowed us to pull unimaginable stuff for dirt cheap from anywhere in the world. It's still hard to believe that starting your business can be done with a few clicks for under $50 straight from your bedroom. Yet there we are.
Should you bother with a corporate career?
Getting a few years in is worth it, as is seeing what it is all about. Experience cannot be bought with money, and you will realize why corporate careers are the perfect opportunity to gain an advantage over your peers. If nothing else, experience and knowledge of social dynamics are something you will not find anywhere else on this level. If you are focused on making as much money as possible, it’s not the most optimal thing - no doubt. But something worth experiencing. The safety net and the connections you can build during your corporate life? Underrated. One or two big logos on your resume ensure you will never have to worry about finding a job. If you are already operating inside the corporate environment, you already know what to do.
Start the side income as soon as possible.
Are you two steps forward? Playing the corporate game and building the WiFi money? Consider yourself lucky because you realize what it is all about. Things take time, and we won't be selling you any ideas that it’s possible to achieve success overnight. Your side income operations take time to gain traction. What would be the best thing for you to do if you already have those in place?
Keep your eyes on the prize, learn the corporate etiquette cheat code, and run laps around your workplace colleagues. Our readers already know that one of your goals should be to milk the corporation as much as possible. Building out multiple income streams and overpassing your employer's income with them. Nothing feels better than walking into the office with an IDGAF attitude. Keep your operations low and spend all your downtime on your business. Next on the list?
Take care of your name
What do we mean by that? It’s all about respect. Never get yourself in a position where you could hurt it. One of your goals should be to prove that you are a hard worker who is willing to put in the action. Once you build that positive reputation and “aura” around you, things get easier, and you can let the gas off the pedal. How long will it take to achieve a reputation in your firm? Around two years. How much does it take to destroy the same? Five minutes.
Cheat Sheet To Help You Thrive
The
was spot on with the post. However, we are bringing our take on it. Some of our "rules" will be similar to what Broke outlined, and some will not. We do not take into consideration that everyone's position is different. Middle managers, juniors, seniors, and recent college graduates - there is something to take out and use to your advantage. Resulting in your getting a promotion and raise without much effort. Playing office politics and participating in activities that bring value. Let’s break down the cheat sheet into points to make it easier - giving a clear outline of maneuvering around and winning with the least friction.1) Say Less Than Necessary: There is a reason you have two ears and one mouth. Broke brought up a good point in his post. There are zero reasons you want to be the loudest one. Especially when talking about big meetings or anywhere else where you might be marked as an outsider, it's difficult to have your mouth shout even more if you are already making money from your side income. Learn how to deliver your ideas and how to be silent when needed. If you are the smartest one in the room (or think you are) and can’t shut your mouth. Make sure you don’t make your superiors look stupid in any way.
2) Keep your private life private: This concept is hard to grasp. Why? If you act like a robot, you won't get far in your corporate journey - you can’t be trusted. At the same time, you will not go far in your corporate journey if you are an open book. Finding the balance is the key. Learning what and how to deliver what is going on in your private life is something you should strive for. Remember, in the corporate environment and business, everything you share can be used against you.
3) Your work colleagues are not your friends: As with the point above. You want them close but not too close. One would be surprised how fast they would turn their back on you to get that raise or promotion. This is the harsh reality when dealing with hungry professionals. Nothing personal is just a business. Be careful with whom you associate and what you share with them.
Closed Conversations: During closed conversations with politically positive people, slowly start agreeing with the people they dislike but in a non-attacking manner. Align yourself with their views and some jabs here and there are actually okay, people definitely bond over disliking another person just don’t be over the top. When you have a closed conversation with people who are politically in the red, make comments such as never having met someone you dislike and everyone has their strong points. Overall, be upbeat and positive 100% of the time around poor performers and you can use some leeway with the good performers by listening and agreeing with their view points. - WSP
4) Being a top performer is not what you should strive to be: After a certain point, the effort you should put into becoming #1 is not worth it. There are zero reasons you should strive to be the best one in your team. What is the reason behind that? The amount of effort and energy is not what will bring you much. The team's members #1, #2, and #3 are on the list to get a raise or promotion. The final reason one will get extra benefits before the others is how they play corporate games. However, #1 must put almost twice as much energy into it as #3. You already know our answer to that. Be close to the top but not the best. You are better off putting energy into higher ROI activities.
5) Learn to play it subtly - don’t flex: This one is hard to explain. The point depends on your environment. The average person's living standard has never been worse. We often mention that everyone with average white-collar work in the 1980s could afford luxury items (watches are a great example) and solid vacations. Today? Most can’t pay the rent. If your work colleagues drive Toyotas and you come to the office with the Porsche. There is a solid chance they will get jealous and resentful. The same logic applies to everything else. Junior with a luxury watch? No go. Learn to play it down.
6) Sales is the most important skill you can possess: The sales game starts early in your career - during the interview phase. You are selling yourself, your story, and what you will bring to the table to the HR and hiring manager. Before you start with your idea of having an analytical role, where you will have minimal communication with other departments… We must disappoint you - they don’t exist in the practical world. Sooner or later, you will have to discuss projects with others or have a raise talk with your supervisors. The sales game never stops, and it’s something you will have to give more time to move forward. One of the best things you could do for yourself is to realize the importance of it.
7) Find a mentor: You would be surprised how many older guys would like to give you a full playbook on how to get the most out of as little input as possible. Having someone with multiple years of corporate experience to guide you and give you tips will separate you from the rest of the herd. Show someone you are an honest, hardworking young individual with smart questions - you will find all the doors open.
8) Automate as much as possible: There are a million ways to do so. Our approach to the Python? You won’t be reading this in the last century's books, considering the rapid advancement we experienced in the last decade. Automate as much as possible and pretend you are working while focusing on the side income. A good place to start? Python and your 9 to 5.
9) Never let your ego get the best of you: You won’t be reading this elsewhere. Why? Because rarely does anyone else tell you to build the side income as soon as possible while still playing the corporate game. Your ego gets bigger once you reach a point in the side income game. Thats expected. The problem is keeping that ego in check when you make more money than someone you report to. Since one of your goals should be to cruise it as long as possible while building on the side - make sure you don’t fly too far. Remember, you do not want enemies or someone working against you in your workplace.
Source from where we borrowed the picture.