The Unspoken Rules Book Summary
Highlights from Gorick Ng’s The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right book.
One of my favorite career books is Gorick Ng’s The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right. It’s the book I wish I had been given as I started my first job after graduate school and I highly recommend it to anyone starting off their career or wondering why they aren’t advancing.
Below is the Table of Contents along with a few highlights so you can see the rich topics. The brilliance is in the simplicity. Everyone needs the book’s easy-to-follow suggestions and templates.
There is a PDF with all the figures and tables that goes with the audio version. I have the book in multiple formats and give sessions using some of the content. Reach out if you want to know more!
Introduction
1. The Three Cs. Competence, Commitment, Compatibility - figures include how others think about your Three Cs such as I I like you and am confident you can do the job, but I worry you’ll quit on me.
Section 1: Secrets to Getting Started:
2. Think, "Let's Give This a Shot!" - If the worst that could happen is someone says no, don’t limit yourself by not giving the other person a chance. You might find that if they can’t help you now, they could in the future. If you want more than the bare minimum, you need to do more than the bare minimum!
3. Show Up Like a High Performer - Includes things to do before you start your job, fill-in-the-blanks to help see/communicate the big picture, and how to ask questions.
4. Be Proactive - Figure out your priorities, how to introduce yourself, questions to ask, and things to do.
Section 2: Secrets to Shaping Others' Perceptions:
5. Know How to Tell Your Story - Questions you can expect to be asked, building your internal and external narrative, and creating your hero’s journey while answering the Three Cs.
6. Manage Your Appearance - Figuring out what to wear.
7. Send the Right Signals - Understanding norms and different types of work styles.
Section 3: Secrets to Getting the Job Done:
8. Take Ownership - Using RACI (responsible, accountable, consulted, informed), how to work backward from a deadline, how to ensure you understand what is being asked, how to ask questions, and communicate.
9. Manage Your Workload - Figuring out how to prioritize your work, what is urgent, what is important to others, handling mistakes, and managing expectations.
Section 4: Secrets to Getting Along With Everyone:
10. Read Between the People - Understand the visible and invisible chain of command, culture, and conversation comfort zones.
11. Spark Relationships - How to build relationships and why they are important, conversation tips, and how to keep the momentum going.
Section 5: Secrets to Getting Ahead:
12. Master Meetings - Types of meetings, how to prepare, your role, what to do in the meeting, and how to follow up.
13. Manage Feedback - How to ask for and decipher feedback. “it’s about what aligns with your manager’s world-view and working style.”
14. Resolve Conflicts - How to handle difficult situations. No job is perfect, how to leave if you need to.
15. Show Your Potential - Tips for being seen, getting new projects, and getting promoted.
I love this book and hope you will benefit from it too!
