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MOVING UP: Digging In, Taking Charge, Playing the Power Game and Learning to Like It by George Mazzei

MOVING UP: Digging In, Taking Charge, Playing the Power Game and Learning to Like It

By

Pub Date: Nov. 26th, 1984
Publisher: Poseidon/Pocket Books--dist. by Simon & Schuster

Brass-tacks guidance for executive advancement--purveyed with a certain humor and grace. To the extent that Mazzei (The New Office Etiquette) has a particular line, it's personal relationships--whether in exercising tact or demonstrating clout. At the start, he'd have you ""be direct. If you want the job, focus on that. . . At any level, it is important to get your money, perks and contracts up front."" (And no monkey-business about rÉsumÉs: provide what's asked for.) ""If you want to move up. . . the first rule is not to be invisible"": do your work effectively, make friends, advertise your accomplishments, ""think of ways to carve out something that is uniquely your own."" And be wary of becoming somebody's pet: ""The best situation is to be a general favorite, to have everyone wish you well because you're just so beamish andtalented and all."" Mazzei has a frank chapter on you-and-your secretary: how to negotiate the coffee-making issue, how to get around the no-no question of dress. Then: how to be boss--when your career no longer depends on producing, but on ""being diplomatic, political."" Here, Mazzei puts a humorous spin on the power-games too: ""there is a certain amount of posing that is necessary to maintain your authority. . . people in lower positions enjoy such stances, since it gives them something to aim for, admire or read about in the National Enquirer."" He'll also tell you to be discreet in going against the stream, and several tacks to take when your boss is on your back (""If this doesn't rattle his confidence. . . you can turn around, still not conceding his points, and promise to Try to Do Better""). Common-sense savviness, and fun to read.