Can’t read the unwritten rules at work-AHHHHH!

What’s your strategy for finding the “unwritten” codes of your office?

Your Rant: I know how things are supposed to work in my company. But it’s clear to me that there are also a lot of unwritten rules. How do you learn what gives outside of the personnel manual and operating policies?

911 Repair:

Everything that I needed to know about the unwritten rules at work I learned from Mr. Mamadou Obotimbe Diabikile. He was shot by police and arrested after he tried to rob the Mali Development Bank in Bamako, Mali. Part of the reason that he was shot was that his movements were hindered by the seven pounds of magic charms he was wearing to make himself invisible.

Unwritten rules at work are like those magic charms. As much as they may seem invisible, there are often tell-tale signs of their existence. You’ve just got to be aware enough to look for them. I’ve listed some questions below to help you identify the unwritten rules where you work. For more, check out “Survival of the Savvy” by Brandon and Seldman (Free Press, 2005).

What are the official rules? OK, your company personnel manual might not be the most scintillating summer reading, but it could be some of the most valuable. In addition, read your company’s annual report and any published operating policies. Study the organizational chart. Read company publications. All of these can provide a glimpse of how the company likes to think things get done.

How does management behave? Most employees have a Ph.D. in studying their boss. So this should be nothing new. But it is important to see how they behave and how they maneuver through the bureaucracy. Sure they’ll always have an easier go of it, but you can almost always learn a trick or two by watching how they get things done.

What behaviors are rewarded and acted upon? This is the best part of capitalism; organizations tend to reward certain kinds of behavior with pay increases, bonuses and other bennies. Keep a look out for exactly what gets rewarded in your organization. Another tool is to see what kind of behaviors get budget, staff and firepower assigned to them. Although the official line may be that the company cares about A, B & C, in the words of Deep Throat, (or at least the movie character) “follow the money” and you just may see that it really values X, Y & Z.

What is the culture of the industry? In addition to company rules there are industry practices that you should factor into the equation.

Do you talk to the successful people you know? In these days of e-mail many of us are getting more removed from our co-workers. It is important to take the time to pick the brains of the people that you know are successful. Often this can be achieved for a cup of coffee or a beer.

Keep an eye out for the unwritten rules where you work and you’ll never need to rob a bank to get ahead, you’ll be laughing all the way to one.

Bob Rosner and Sherrie Campbell author the nationally syndicated workplace911 column weekly. Bob’s a best-selling author and award-winning journalist who has responded to over 50,000 emails from employees, bosses and entrepreneurs. Sherrie’s a relationship expert and award-winning comedian who has offered quick, intuitive and humorous responses to over 30,000 people. He’s been called “Dilbert, with a solution.” She’s the counselor with a kick. Together they’ve turned rants into raves via TV, radio, print and live on their website at workplace911.com.