When you’re starting your career, navigating the unwritten rules around to how to behave at work can be really difficult. So how do you learn that etiquette?

This week comedian and author Sarah Cooper tells host Elainy Mata how she learned those invisible rules early in her career, why they matter, and which rules she thinks you can bend.

You may know Sarah for her viral lip-syncing TikToks during the pandemic. But before that, she worked as a designer at big tech companies – like Yahoo and Google. And she didn’t just crack the office etiquette game -- she also had some fun with those rules. In fact, Sarah’s early comedy is all about office etiquette – like her satirical article “10 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings.”

Sarah and Elainy offer their take on the etiquette of email writing, how to handle yourself in meetings, and when it’s OK to wear your comfy pants to work. Plus, they answer your office etiquette questions.

Have a career question? Let us know at NewHere@HBR.org.

Key topics include: interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, listening skills, office politics, careers.

More Reading:

How to Speak Up in Meetings (Christine vs. Work)

How to Write Better Emails at Work (Jeff Su)

The New Rules of Work Clothes (Allison Shapira)

The Cooper Review (Sarah Cooper)

World roundup: June 23-25 2023