Dan Rust on the Ross Kaminsky Show

Dan Rust on the Ross Kaminsky Show

Dan Rust on Denver’s KHOW-AM radio with Ross Kaminsky talking about”Workplace Poker” and why people struggle with self-promotion at work. How can you “toot your own horn” without being perceived as a blowhard braggart?

Ross Kaminsky is the host of the Ross Kaminsky Show, heard every weekday morning on KHOW-AM in Denver, and a columnist and blogger for The American Spectator. Mr. Kaminsky is also a regular donor to other free-market and libertarian organizations including Reason, the Cato Institute, and the Independence Institute.

Click on the link below to listen.

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Jordana Green Show Interview

Jordana Green Show Interview

Jordana Green hosts a radio show on WCCO 830 AM (Minneapolis) weeknights from 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. CST. On this show segments below she interviews Dan Rust about his book Workplace Poker, and offers her own insight into the modern work environment. They discuss self-promotion strategies, how to effectively “toot your own horn” without being perceived as a blowhard.

They also discuss the importance of personal charm and charisma in career advancement, and whether or not someone can actually learn to be more charming. Dan shares stories of several “charm-challenged” individuals who were able to develop greater effectiveness in this area. It took time and significant effort, but eventually these overly-serious grumpy folks were able to become quite pleasant and indeed, charming.

The total interview (parts 1 and 2 below) lasts about 30 minutes.

Part 1:

Part 2:

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Should You Break “Unwritten Rules?”

Should You Break "Unwritten Rules?"

Every company has its own culture and way of doing things, and within that lived reality are what we call the unwritten rules—which must be followed to get ahead at a corporation. These are not usually written down in a company handbook but are left implicit—unwritten—for employees to decipher on their own.

Most learn about these rules by asking team members, seeking feedback, inquiring about what gets rewarded or discouraged, or just simply by observing what does or does not work. Read more

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Office Politics – Navigate the Landmines

Office Politics - Navigate the Landmines

“Why can’t people just say what they mean and mean what they say?” lamented Jenny, a mid-level manager for one of my client businesses. “If we focused all of this energy on the business we wouldn’t have most of the issues that cause the gossip, paranoia and backstabbing.” She was reacting to recent comments from a “friend” in the business, confiding that some of her coworkers were worried because she had been coming in late the past week. First of all Jenny was surprised because her cubicle was in an area where no one could see her daily comings and goings. She had been arriving about 30 minutes late ─ and staying 30 minutes longer at the end of the day, but apparently no one noticed THAT ─ because her husband’s car was being repaired and he needed her to drop him off at his workplace. Read more

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The Survivors Club

The Survivors Club

Most unemployed people read books on resume writing, job search strategies, interviewing skills, etc. There is another book that should be on their reading list, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with the job search process.

Did you ever wondered why some people survive and others don’t? Why some stay calm and collected and others become highly stressed and unravel? How could some bounce back from adversity, while others collapse and surrender? Read more

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The Ideal Work Schedule: Circadian Rhythms

The Ideal Work Schedule: Circadian Rhythms

Humans have a well-defined internal clock that shapes our energy levels throughout the day: our circadian process, which is often referred to as a circadian rhythm because it tends to be very regular. If you’ve ever had jetlag, then you know how persistent circadian rhythms can be. This natural — and hardwired — ebb and flow in our ability to feel alert or sleepy has important implications for you and your employees. Read more

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Playing the Office Politics Game (to Win)

Playing the Office Politics Game (to Win)

Office politics matter. If you think you can succeed at work without getting political, you need to wake up. Politicking happens whether you like it or not, so you might as well learn the right buttons to push to influence others more effectively.

Working life sucks. Let’s be honest here. Bad stuff can happen to good people. Bright, smart, hard-working souls who try to do a good job often end up getting walked over, trodden on, beaten down. And arrogant, nasty, vindictive types often seem to have a fast-track ticket that allows them to rise straight to the top. But you didn’t need me to tell you that. I bet you can think of a dozen instances where you have seen precisely that happen.

But why does it go on in the first place? Read more

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Stand Out From the Job Search Competition

Stand Out From the Job Search Competition

Even if you have reached the top rungs of the corporate ladder, you might discover in this turbulent job market that potential employers will be looking beyond your core qualifications to your creativity, flexibility and fit into the company culture. Establishing yourself as a best-in-class professional, capable of easily adapting to and thriving during fluctuating economic cycles, will set you apart and enable you to more quickly land a career-enhancing opportunity. Some nontraditional strategies  include:

Read more

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Office Politics – to Play, or not to Play?

It is easy to take perverse pride in a refusal to “play politics” in the office and/or a determination to not fit in to the corporate culture. The typical corporate culture can be pretty stifling and fitting in can mean denying our own unique perspectives and personalities. But rather than stick your head in the sand and simply opt out (which can either put your career at risk, or diminish your potential growth trajectory) wouldn’t it make more sense to find a way to play the game and stay true to yourself?

The term “office politics” refers to the human dynamics within a business culture characterized by both cooperative and competitive pressures, struggles for recognition and power, tribal alliances and individual goals. Most human relationships involve some kind of back-and-forth play for power, influence and recognition. We negotiate with each other every day for assignments, resources, recognition, accountability, etc. In any business environment where people with conflicting goals have to get along and careers are at stake, politics will thrive. Read more

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Don’t Dismiss Office Politics – Teach It

An inability or unwillingness to “play the game” of office politics is viewed by some as an issues of values. They are going to succeed because of job performance alone. Some see it as proof of their integrity. They wear their refusal as a badge of honor. It shouldn’t be. Because many promising managers and executives derail sometime during their careers, often because they weren’t very good at office politics.

But these “non-players” couldn’t be more wrong. Because “politics” (really, the dynamic natural tension of human interactions in any environment) is part of the job. Even if it never appears anywhere in a formal job description. A person’s political skills are key to building a successful career—for the good of both themselves and their company.

When a competent employee combines tactical capabilities (they can get things done) with strategic interpersonal competencies (the ability to work effectively with others) then everyone benefits. Conversely, when a promising career falters because of poor political skills, companies have to spend time and money finding a replacement, and performance suffers in the meantime. Read more

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