Workplace Poker

Book excerpt: Read people, bet wisely, and strategize to win: “You’ll be able to see what’s happening under the surface at work, and prepare for whatever may be ahead.” —Marshall Goldsmith, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Triggers In this guide, a career advisor reveals the tells, blind spots, secrets, and unspoken rules you need to know in order to play the game—and even win against those who’ve been dealt better cards, like high-status college degrees or family connections (or just a more supportive boss). The most successful people don’t rely on luck—because they know it always comes and goes. Instead, they prepare for the setbacks that are inevitable in any job and use smart strategies to manage them. 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.” If you’re talented, ambitious, and hardworking, but feel your career is frustratingly bogged down, you’ll find insight and skills to adapt to every hurdle, turning adversity into advantage and struggle into strength, including: • Recognizing 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 • Owning—and learning from—career missteps and failures Smart, funny, and relatable, Rust shares stories of individuals who’ve 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 can get out of you own way—and play to win.