These rules are the guiding principles that show you how to inspire your team in a way that gets results. They will help you say the right thing, do the right thing and know instinctively how to handle every situation. 

Introduction  

How to use the Rules  

ASSEMBLE YOUR TEAM  

1. Know what a team is and how it works 
2. Hire raw talent 
3. Bevery, very goodat finding the right people  
4. If youcan’tfind the right person, don’t hire the wrong one  
5. Ensure people know exactly what is expected of them 
6. Understand the roles of others 
7. Understand the pros and cons of individualism 
8. Get the best resources for your team 
9. Be ready to prune 
10. Make your team better than you 

TAKE THE LEAD  

1. Set your boundaries 
2. Offload as much as you can – or dare 
3. Know your own importance 
4. Hold effective meetings . . . 
5. 15. . . .No,really effective  
6. Make meetings fun 
7. Listen to ideas from others 
8. Don’talways have to have the last word  
9. Have clear expectations 
10. Don’ttry justifying stupid systems  
11. Embrace technology 
12. Be ready to say yes 
13. Give credit to the team when it deserves it 
14. Train them to bring you solutions, not problems 

DEAL WITH PEOPLE  

1. Get them emotionally involved 
2. Encourage them 
3. Set realistic targets – no,really realistic 
4. Accept their limitations 
5. Celebrate 
6. Create a good atmosphere 
7. Inspire loyalty and team spirit 
8. Have and show trust in your staff 
9. Respect individual differences 
10. Adapt your style to each team member 
11. Encourage team members to embrace their differences 
12. Let them think they know more than you (even if theydon’t) 
13. Use positive reinforcement 

MANAGE YOURSELF  

1. Learn from others’ mistakes 
2. Enjoy what you are doing 
3. Be passionate butdon’tkill yourself  
4. Manage your energy 
5. Be a good listener 
6. Understand the herd mentality 
7. Don’ttake sides  
8. Never lose your temper 
9. Know the mission statement – and understand it 

MANAGE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS  

1. Keep your home life at home 
2. No touching – except for handshakes 
3. Don’tmisuse your authority  
4. Exude confidence and energy 
5. Pay attention to personal grooming 
6. Be cool 
7. Don’tgossip  
8. Don’tbitch  
9. Stand up for others 
10. Compliment people sincerely 
11. Be cheerful and positive 
12. Use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ 
13. Don’tswear  
14. Only speak sense 
15. Never get personal 
16. Know how to handle other people’s anger 

RISE TO A CHALLENGE  

1. Take the rap 
2. Be sensitive to friction 
3. Keep track of everything you do andsay 
4. Let them make mistakes 
5. Make sure no one feels isolated 
6. Hold your team together 
7. Anticipatethreats  
8. Keep calm and carry on 

WIELD POWER WISELY  

1. Knowledge is power 
2. Be able to walk away 
3. Know whoyou’redealing with  
4. Be authoritative 
5. Be likeable 
6. Know who you are 
7. Be great at your job 
8. Get people on your side 
9. Be controlled 
10. Don’tgive it away  

PREPARE FOR THE NEXT LEVEL  

1. Big brother is watching you 
2. Study the promotion system 
3. Develop a game plan 
4. Know yourself – strengths and weaknesses 
5. Dress one step ahead 
6. Talk one step ahead 
7. Act one step ahead 
8. Think one step ahead 
9. Talk of ‘we’ rather than ‘I’ 
10. Walk the walk 
11. Address corporate issues and problems 
12. Spend more time with senior staff 
13. Get people to assume you have already made the step 
14. Prepare for the step after next 
15. Be well up on new management techniques 
16. Write with authority 
17. Learn towritereports  
18. Present like a pro 
19. Capitalise on the career-enhancing moments 

Know when to break the rules  

A definitive code for leadership success  

Some people find work so easy. They appear to be natural leaders, painlessly negotiating the system, the politics, the people and the targets.  

Is there something they know that the rest of us don’t? Is it something we can all learn? The answer is a resounding yes. They know the Rules of leadership.  

These Rules are the guiding principles that show you how to inspire your team and streamline your career in a way that gets results. They will help you say the right thing, do the right thing and know instinctively how to handle every situation.  

Others can be good. You’ll be better.  

• Build the right team by hiring people with strong potential and choosing the right fit. 

• Inspire loyalty and team spirit by making people feel part of the team. 

• Learn how to handle different challenges with confidence. 

• Use power wisely and prepare yourself for the next level. 

• Guide your team to bring solutions to work-related problems.