The 7 Brutal Rules of Work
Readtime: 4 minutes
If you’ve ever felt like your hard work isn’t being recognised or that career progression seems unfairly tilted in favour of others, you’re not imagining things.
The workplace operates by a set of unwritten rules, rules that no one really teaches you but that define who moves up and who stays stuck.
Once you understand these rules, you can stop working harder and start working smarter.
Let’s dive in.
1. Visibility is as important as performance
Most people think that great work speaks for itself. It doesn’t.
If no one knows about your contributions, they might as well not exist.
High performers make their work visible – not by bragging, but by strategically sharing successes, aligning with key projects, and making sure the right people know their impact.
Action: Keep a record of your wins. Bring them up in meetings, performance reviews, and casual conversations with decision-makers.
2. Get a sponsor, not just a mentor
A mentor gives advice. A sponsor actively opens doors for you.
The most successful professionals have someone in their corner advocating for them when they’re not in the room.
Action: Identify someone senior who believes in your potential and ask them for guidance. Over time, build that relationship into sponsorship by consistently delivering value to their team or goals.
3. Perception is reality
We assume others will see us for who we truly are. But in reality, we are seen through the lens of how we present ourselves.
If you’re always stressed, people will see you as overwhelmed.
If you’re consistently composed and confident, they’ll see you as a leader.
Action: Take control of your narrative. Speak with confidence, dress with intention, and be aware of how your body language and communication shape others’ perceptions.
4. Always align with key stakeholders
Many employees believe their boss is the only person they need to impress. The reality is that success depends on aligning with all key stakeholders – your boss, your peers, senior leaders, and even cross-functional teams.
When promotion decisions are made, multiple people have a say. If they don’t know or trust you, you’re at a disadvantage.
Action: Map out who influences your career progression. Build relationships with them early. Engage in projects that put you on their radar.
5. Initiative drives progression
Doing your job well keeps you employed. Taking initiative moves you forward.
High performers don’t wait to be told what to do. They actively seek out opportunities to contribute, improve processes, and add value beyond their job description.
Taking initiative is about spotting opportunities others miss. Whether it’s proposing a new idea, streamlining an inefficient process, or volunteering for a stretch project, those who step up get noticed.
Action: Find a way to contribute beyond your core responsibilities, e.g. improving a process, suggesting an innovation, or leading an initiative.
6. Solve problems before they arise
Most people wait until issues surface before addressing them. High performers are different – they anticipate obstacles and remove them ahead of time.
This makes them invaluable because they create smooth operations, rather than just reacting to chaos.
Action: The next time you’re working on a project, ask yourself: “What could go wrong?” Then, proactively put safeguards in place.
7. Discretion makes people trust you
Some believe that sharing confidential information makes them seem important.
It doesn’t.
The people who are trusted the most – who are brought into leadership discussions – are those who know when to keep things confidential.
Action: Be intentional with what you share. If someone trusts you with sensitive information, protect it. Trust is the foundation of influence.
In Summary
Congratulations. you now know the 7 Brutal Rules of Work that will help you get ahead:
Make your work visible.
Secure a sponsor, not just a mentor.
Manage perceptions.
Align with key stakeholders.
Show initiative.
Solve problems before they arise.
Master discretion.
No company handbook will teach you these, but mastering them will fast-track your success.
On a Personal Note
I learned these rules later than I wish I’d done when I was at KPMG. It meant I stayed longer at senior manager than I wanted to.
Particularly the points about managing perceptions and aligning with key stakeholders.
Yes, I was known for being reliable and delivering quality work, but I had to change people’s perceptions of me from just a doer to a more strategic leader and relationship builder.
The quality work of my work was a fundamental, but when I made the deliberate shift to change people’s perceptions of me and get senior partners sponsoring me, it was by far the most instrumental element of my progression.
One Quote to Get You Going
“It’s not bragging if you can back it up.”
That’s all for today.
See you in a couple of weeks,
Mostyn
P.S. Curious about my corporate workshops on high performance for professionals and leaders?
Watch the 3-minute showreel here.