Office Rules
(The Three Inside Blocks of The Bottom Row of The Pyramid of Teaching Success)
Swen Nater

I am an assistant buyer for Costco Wholesale. I’m in a cubicle along with five others, all involved in the same area—media. I found out a long time ago, in order for me to produce the highest-quality work and to make my job easier, I needed the help of those around me, the young ones because of their technical expertise with the computer, and those higher up in the company because they could show me how to get there.

Office Rules
As in any company, when a position opens up, people apply, interview, and the job is filled. Afterward, people talk about why that person got the job and they didn’t. The most common excuse is “politics.” In many cases that is probably true but what is politics in the workplace? The short definition is, “Politics is who you know.” If that is true, I don’t see a problem. Everyone in the company has the opportunity to know everyone else. Everyone can make the effort to be a little outgoing, be interested in others, attend the Christmas party, do things for others, and develop friendships at work and after work. To me, when someone complains he didn’t get the job because of politics, it means, most likely, all things being fairly equal, the person that got the job did better at getting to know people that could help move him up when the opportunity came along.

Now I am not aspiring to become CEO but I know for sure, when you’re looking to advance or simply be happy at work, it doesn’t hurt to be friendly, be likable, and help others. People that like each other, help each other, and that makes everyone’s work easier. To remind me of this, some time ago I created my own “Office Rules” that hang in my cube. There are two sets of threes. 

1. Never say an unkind word about anyone.
2. Never laugh at another’s expense.
3. Never take credit for what someone else did.
4. Always greet people with a smile.
5. Always help someone that needs it. 
6. Always be considerate of others’ workloads and stress.

The Three Inside Blocks of the Foundation
In the last posting, I presented the concept of a Pyramid of Teaching Success. I established the cornerstones of Love and Balance and promised, in the next posting, we would learn the titles of the three blocks that finished the bottom row, or the foundation. Besides Love and balance, what fundamental traits must a teacher practice so that the foundation for teaching success is strong?

The three inside blocks of the bottom row of Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success are Friendship, Loyalty, and Cooperation. As it happens, all three concepts are in my Office Rules. Friendship is greeting people with a smile and giving credit where credit is due. Loyalty is never saying an unkind word about someone or laughing at another’s expense. Cooperation is helping people that need it and being considerate of their workload and stress level. It makes sense, being friendly, loyal, and cooperative is foundational to teaching success, personal success, and business success. Therefore, why reinvent the wheel? The three inside blocks of the Pyramid of Teaching Success are Friendship, Loyalty, and Cooperation.  

Conclusion
I have a confession to make. Although I wrote those rules, I don’t follow them all the time. I try but it’s difficult. How hard is it to not ever say an unkind word about someone behind his or her back? How difficult is it, before you ask someone for something, to consider how much is on his or her plate? But like the Pyramid of Success, it’s the effort in trying to follow the plan that is most important. Any improvement will result in better relationships and better relationships means everyone helps everyone else.

The bottom row of The Pyramid of Teaching Success consists of the cornerstones of Love and Balance, and traits that facilitate the help of others (Friendship, Loyalty, and Cooperation). Next posting we will introduce the concept of a learning community, people sharing knowledge. The foundation has been set. 

“My best friend is the man who, in wishing me well, wishes it for my sake.” Aristotle