HOW TO BE A STAR AT WORK

Author: Robert E. Kelley
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
ISBN-10: 0812931696
ISBN-13: 9780812931693
Publication Year: 1999

The author, Robert E. Kelley sets out in this book “Nine Breakthrough Strategies You Need to Succeed.” These strategies are said to enable one to be a “star performer”, with significantly more productivity than the average worker. Interestingly the research and development of this material started at Bell Labs – with engineers. So while he applies what he has learned broadly, the professional engineer can definitely benefit from these strategies given their source. The information first appeared in a Harvard Business Review article, “How Bell Labs Creates Star Performers” (July-August 1993).

He describes the need for greater productivity among “knowledge professionals” or “brainpower workers”. The book consists of three main sections: 1) Introduction to the star performer model and the benefits that can be achieved, 2) The nine work strategies, and 3) Tips for woman and minority readers, a discussion of the intellectual capital economy, and as review of the research methodology. There is generous use of examples that help drive home the points.

The nine strategies discussed are:

Taking Initiative: Accepting responsibility above and beyond your stated job, volunteering, promoting new ideas

Networking: Getting direct and immediate access to coworkers and sharing your own knowledge

Self-Management: Regulating your own work commitments, time, performance level, and career growth

Perspective: Seeing your job in its larger context and taking on other viewpoints like those of the customer

Followership: Helping the leader accomplish the organization’s goals and thinking for yourself rather than relying solely on managerial direction

Leadership: Formulating, stating, and building consensus on common goals and working to accomplish them

Teamwork Effectiveness: Assuming joint responsibility for work activities, coordinating efforts, and accomplishing shared goals with coworkers

Organizational Savvy: Navigating the competing interests in an organization, be they individual or group, to promote cooperation, address conflicts, and get things done.

Show-and-Tell: Presenting your ideas persuasively in written and oral form