We all know that success comes with being consistent and working hard. But if you want to rise up the ladder, workplace manners are really important. They can either make your career, or break it. So while its important to take your work seriously, its also necessary to follow some dos and don’ts in the professional space. Here are 11 workplace habits that are probably coming in the way of your next promotion.
1. Checking your phone in a meeting or while talking to your manager.
Checking your phone constantly indicates that you are not focused or present in an important discussion.
2. Complaining about your boss, teammates, workload, the coffee or the canteen food!
Complaining about everything makes you a toxic person – which is exactly the sort of person people usually run away from. This behaviour can damage your reputation, and land you in trouble.
Being a people pleaser may seem a sure-shot way to succeed, but it isnt. Agreeing with a bad idea or favouring a non-profitable project can backfire later. Eventually, people will learn that you are acting smart and are not giving constructive criticism.
4. Staying late in office even though you are not required.
Why would you do that? Its a waste of time, and energy and says nothing about your seriousness towards work. It probably gives the impression that you only invest in wasteful things.
5. Returning late from lunch break, or any break for that matter.
If you constantly show up late at work, or return late from breaks, it shows a careless and disinterested attitude. Being a little prompt wont cost you much. All you need to do is time yourself.
If you are one of those who has a bad habit of taking too long to check or respond to your e-mails, you can come across as unprofessional. In fact, this attitude could lead to missing important meetings or deadlines and unnecessary delays or confusion. In fact, learning effective email habits can really be a boon.
7. Disturbing others by constantly chatting in the work area, or loudly talking on the phone.
Being a talkative co-worker can label you as the inefficient one. You may not realise it, but your colleagues are trying to focus on work. So reduce the chattering, and get going with work.
Its a great idea to make friends at work. However, its an equally bad idea to gossip. People might enjoy your stories, but theyll eventually think of you as someone they cant trust. More importantly, gossiping isnt the most impressive quality of someone who wants to climb the ladder.
If you throw tantrums, its evident that you find it difficult to work under pressure. Once your boss finds out, youll be in trouble.
10. Attending an important meeting without doing your homework.
If you want to make a successful career, brainstorming and researching well before a meeting should be your priorities. If you attend a meeting where everyone is throwing ideas and you are sitting idle, you are bound to be called the useless one. Just remember, once an impression is made in the professional space, its very difficult to undo it.
A massive cc list certainly isn’t going to get you brownie points. Surprisingly, it can have quite the opposite impact. You probably think you’re informing everyone about everything. But in reality, you’re probably just bothering people who aren’t directly involved in the matter.
