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How Works Works
The subtle science of getting ahead without losing yourself
Discover the unwritten rules of work
Understand what an employer wants
Read how to build your informal networks and get ahead
Learn how to manage your career and find meaning at work
“Michelle Penelope King has masterfully deciphered the unwritten rules of today’s workplace. If you are looking to find your way, How Work Works is your compass for navigating a meaningful career on your own terms.”
Dr Cindy Pace, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, MetLife 
“Unlock the secrets of managing the ambiguity that is transforming workplaces. This insightful book takes readers on a journey of self-discovery as they learn to navigate the unwritten rules of office politics and master the art of reading 'the air.' Dr. King is a magnificent guide to discovering and pursuing greater meaning at work.”
Jay Brown, CEO, Crown Castle 
“Whether you’re well into your career, looking for your next move, or starting something new, this insightful book cuts through the noise and gives you actionable advice to navigate the unwritten rules and find your place and purpose at work.”
Dorie Clark, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Long Game and executive education faculty, Duke University Fuqua School of Business 
“How Work Works is a guide for anyone who wants to create a positive, healthy, and productive workplace culture that fosters individual growth, collective success, and inclusivity. Michelle King’s deep understanding of workplace culture provides insights and practical advice on how diversity, equity, and inclusion are all intrinsically linked to company success.”
Sebastian Dettmers, CEO, StepStone 
“After a global pandemic, virtual internships and onboarding, if you are new to work, early in your career, or just need a brush up on how all of this work stuff works, Michelle King has delivered an important and honest resource that will help anyone, especially those new to work, navigate and grow their careers in today’s workplace. These 'soft skills' are the keys to success at work. How Work Works is the playbook we’ve ALL needed to level the field in advancing our careers.”
Melissa Kilby, CEO, Girl Up 
“An insightful guide for those who want to learn how to navigate the new world of work, advance their careers, find meaning and make a contribution beyond a job description.”
Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global 
“How Work Works will inspire and guide you in ways you did not even know you needed. Highly recommended for everyone who works.”
Dolly Chugh, NYU Stern Professor and Author of The Person You Mean to Be and A More Just Future 
''The people who understand people always win. Doing this means reading the seemingly invisible hints, cues, innuendos and symbolic actions that humans constantly share beyond words. These are the non-obvious secrets of how we work and this book is a wonderfully indispensable guide to decoding them.''
Rohit Bhargava, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of Non-Obvious Megatrends and The Future Normal 
“How Work Works is a must-read for anyone who touches the workplace. King’s decade of research allows her to lay out five key areas to make work work for all. In a post-pandemic world, where workplace culture is up in the air, How Work Works is a roadmap for workers in these uncertain times.”
Eve Rodsky, New York Times Bestselling Author, Fair Play 
"Throughout How Work Works, King offers a persuasive update on corporate-derived conceptions of success and the routes one must take to get there. King points the reader to consider why it is just as important to deepen our understanding of the unwritten, informal socio-cultural cues that shape our work practices and environments as it is to master the work itself. And how timely a resource given the ever-changing landscape of workplaces in a world where our intentional care for others, and the contexts from whence they come, is a critical practice."
Darnell L. Moore, author No Ashes In The Fire and VP Inclusion Strategy Netflix 
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How Work Works will be published by Harper Collins on 10th October 2023
Pre-order today at all major retailers
A unique and revelatory guide to understanding and navigating the unwritten rules of the workplace—the key to achieving success, finding meaning, and staying true to your authentic self in today’s business world— from the organizational expert and celebrated author of The Fix.
In her decades researching organizations, Michelle King (PhD) has discovered that people who succeed possess a particularly unique skill: They know how workplaces work. More specifically, to get ahead, they do not reply on the often generic and outdated written formal rules that for a century have defined the workplace. Instead, they have learned to gauge how they should behave and perform by learning the informal (and unspoken) rules that exist just below the surface, rather than ‘formal’ organizational policies.
How Work Works details my 20 years of research and is a one-of-a-kind guidebook for managers, executives, entry-level hopefuls, and college grads on how to:
- Read the unwritten rules of work.
- Create informal networks among colleagues, access information that can benefit their career, and share opportunities to gain and develop the support necessary for promotion.
- Cut through the ambiguity of workplace politics and develop understanding of what an employer truly wants out of its employees.
- Understand how to manage a career to find meaning and fulfilment in this new world of work.
- Recognize and value their own unique identity, strengths, interests, culture and beliefs as well as discover how to connect across differences and help foster a sense of belonging at work.
The new world of work requires a new way of working. With more people vying for top positions, a volatile global workplace, and an ever-evolving landscape, it is increasingly important for employees to understand how to negotiate the unspoken and intangible elements of workplace culture. How Work Works dispels old myths and provides keen observations about what it means to find belonging, build networks, manage the informal and ultimately thrive at work.
De-bunk myths about how workplaces work
Discover how informal networks work and how to build yours
Learn how to build self and other awareness
Understand how to learn on the job and future-proof your career
Unpack how to find meaning at work and make a contribution beyond your job
Download your free career journal today