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How Work Works

The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without Losing Yourself

ebook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available

A unique and revelatory guide to understanding and navigating the unwritten rules of the workplace—the key to achieving success, finding meaning, and staying true to your authentic self in today's business world—from the organizational expert and celebrated author of The Fix.

In her two decades researching organizations, Michelle King has discovered that people who succeed possess a particularly unique skill: They know how workplaces work. More specifically, to get ahead, they do not rely on the often generic and outdated written formal rules that for a century have defined the workplace. Instead, they have learned to gauge how they should behave and perform by becoming aware of informal (and unspoken) rules that exist just below the surface, rather than "formal" organizational guidelines. In this one-of-a-kind guide, King offers her proprietary framework based on over ten years of research and hundreds of employees who reached leadership positions. By focusing on five key areas — navigating informal networks; developing self-awareness and awareness of others; learning the skills you need to be adaptive to changing conditions; getting support for your next promotion; and finding meaning and fulfillment at work—King teaches every professional how to understand and make these systems work for them and achieve their career ambitions.

The new world of work requires a new way of working. With more people vying for top positions, a volatile unpredictable global workplace, and an ever-evolving landscape, it is increasingly important for employees to understand how to negotiate the unspoken and intangible elements of workplace culture.. In How Work Works, King dispels old myths and provides keen observations about what it means to find belonging, build networks, manage the informal and ultimately thrive at work.

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    • Kirkus

      July 15, 2023
      A respected expert on the way workplaces really operate provides a wealth of advice. In her latest book, King, a successful consultant on organizational culture and the author of The Fix: Overcome the Invisible Barriers That Are Holding Women Back at Work, casts a wide net, examining the informal rules and practices of workplaces. These rules are often more important than workflow charts and duty statements, but they can be difficult to discern, especially for people whose training is primarily in a technical field. The author focuses on a few essential areas: navigating informal networks, developing awareness, learning adaptive skills, gaining promotions, and finding meaning. She sees "soft skills" as critically important in the age of diversity and remote work. "In the new world, we must learn how to bridge our differences with others so we can collaborate, innovate, and solve complex problems," she writes. "This means working with people who don't share your background or identity." She tracks the process of observing colleagues and more senior executives for guidance on the implicit rules, and she suggests that offering assistance to others is a positive avenue for building connections. For leaders, creating a more inclusive workplace means sharing information and being willing to take chances when allocating projects to stretch employees' abilities. For employees, readiness to move outside your comfort zone and then seeking feedback builds a presence in crucial networks and marks you as capable of bigger things. In terms of job satisfaction, the keys are good personal relationships and linking individual efforts to a greater objective. King provides practical advice although she has a tendency to repeat her points more than needed. But this is a small issue with a book that would be a useful read for anyone trying to navigate the modern workplace. With the authority of experience, King shows how knowing the informal rules is the path to advancement and fulfillment.

      COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Booklist

      September 1, 2023
      Many realize there are unwritten rules to navigating the workplace, but it could take years to figure them out. Those that don't may not get ahead; however, there is hope. Author King, recognized as a global gender and organizational-culture expert, helps readers find success while staying true to themselves. She says that when you take action to manage your career, you can gain and maintain employment because you have the skills workplaces need. To get ahead, shake off outdated rules and focus on five key areas: navigating informal networks, developing self-awareness, learning skills you need to be adaptive, getting support, and finding meaning at work. This is one of many helpful lists included in the book, backed by the latest employment-related research. King notes that with artificial intelligence, global workforces, and fierce competition, employees need to stay more relevant than ever. Traditional career paths no longer work; workers must be flexible and learn how to read the air to recognize change so that they remain employable. This book will help readers understand what it means to belong, build networks, and succeed at work.

      COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  • English

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