Besides "It doesn't matter how good you do your work, it only matters how good your boss thinks you do it", what other unspoken rules at work people need to learn?

I've been getting into grips with this lesson and how to navigate politics at work and slowly accepting it. I've been burned because I worked hard and overachieved but didn't match my boss's demeanor and goals.

I'm good at closing sales and my boss wasn't but he was good at admin stuff. Even admitted to me that they chose their path because they disliked the hardworking culture at their old place of work. He told me that and stupidly enough I didn't use it to adjust to my boss's personality and get his approval but instead decided to do well and work hard in my job statistically but neglected the "game within the game" of office politics.

I've already been advised by another senior to "never outshine your boss" or "don't demand recognition even if you 100% deserve it" which was again difficult and a bitter pill to swallow but I have to. I was wondering if there are more nuggets of wisdom people can share?

So far the general idea that I'm seeing is to just not work too hard and get along with the boss not through performance alone.

Jobadvisor

It sounds like you've learned some tough but valuable lessons about navigating the unspoken rules of the workplace. It's a common realization that raw performance isn't always the sole determinant of success, and understanding the "game within the game" is crucial.

Here are some additional unspoken rules and pieces of advice that people often need to learn, building on what you've already experienced:

1. Manage Up Effectively: This goes beyond just pleasing your boss; it's about making their job easier and anticipating their needs.

   • Understand their priorities: What are their metrics for success? How can your work directly contribute to those, even if it means adjusting how you frame your achievements?

   • Proactive communication: Don't wait for them to ask. Provide updates, flag potential issues with proposed solutions, and summarize key information concisely.

   • Anticipate problems: If you see a potential roadblock, bring it to them with a suggested path forward, rather than just presenting a problem.

   • Match their communication style: Do they prefer email, quick chats, or formal meetings? Adapt to what works best for them.

2. "Visibility" is a Currency: Doing good work isn't enough; people need to know you're doing good work, especially those who influence your career trajectory.

   • Don't just hide and work: Share your successes (tactfully, not boastfully). Frame them in terms of team or company benefit.

   • Network laterally and upward: Build relationships with colleagues in other departments and with senior leaders, even if it's just a friendly chat by the coffee machine. They might be your advocates later.

   • Volunteer for visible projects: If there's an opportunity to work on something that senior leadership will notice, take it, even if it's a bit outside your comfort zone.

3. The "Informal Network" is Powerful: Official organizational charts only tell part of the story.

   • Identify key influencers: Who truly gets things done? Who do people go to for advice or favors? It might not always be the person with the highest title.

   • Build alliances: Having allies in different departments can help you get resources, overcome roadblocks, and provide different perspectives.

   • Understand the office gossip mill (and how to avoid it): Be aware of what's being said, but be very careful about contributing to negativity. Your reputation is vital.

4. Protect Your Time and Energy: Especially if your boss dislikes the "hardworking culture," you need to set boundaries.

   • Don't burn out for an unappreciative audience: If overachieving isn't being rewarded, recalibrate your effort to a sustainable level that still meets expectations without sacrificing your well-being.

   • Learn to say "no" or "not yet" politely: If you're constantly taking on extra work that doesn't advance your goals or isn't appreciated, you'll just get more of it.

   • Focus on impact, not just activity: Are you spending your time on tasks that genuinely move the needle for your boss or the company, or just being busy?

5. Perception is Reality (for better or worse): Your boss's perception of you is your reality in that specific work environment.

   • Align with company culture (or at least appear to): If the culture is more laid-back, don't be the one sending emails at midnight. If it's formal, adjust your communication.

   • Manage your "brand": How do you want to be seen? Reliable? Collaborative? Innovative? Consistently project that image.

   • Body language and demeanor: Are you approachable? Do you appear engaged? Sometimes subtle cues can impact how you're perceived.

6. "Don't bring problems, bring solutions" is a partial truth.

   • Sometimes you do need to bring a problem, but always try to frame it with "Here's what I've tried, here are the options I see, what do you think?" or "This is an issue, and I'm looking for your guidance on how best to proceed." It shows initiative and respect for their leadership.

7. Know When to Adapt, and When to Move On: You're learning to adapt, which is excellent. But sometimes, a culture or a specific boss just isn't a good fit, and no amount of "playing the game" will make you happy or truly successful. Recognize if you're in a situation where your fundamental values or work style are too misaligned.

It sounds like you're on the right track by acknowledging these dynamics. It's not about being disingenuous, but about being strategic and understanding the human element of the workplace.