Bad behavior at work is unprofessional and can get out of hand. Many people are not aware of their offensive behaviors and habits, or worse, they just do not care.
Here are 12 definite office don’ts for everyone, even if you are the person in charge. If you think this doesn’t apply to you, do yourself a favor by reading this every once in a while just to make sure you are being respectful of others.
1. Sending emails you wouldn’t want your manager to see.
If you are considering sending something offensive, sloppy or asinine, do not do it. In the wrong hands, it might hurt the company’s reputation and your own. Never assume that your email, even your own personal email on company wifi, is private. It is not.
Gossiping about your Team Members.
Whatever information you are spreading, will not make anyone look as bad as you – the messenger. Don’t do it.
Spending hours on your social media.
You are being paid to be productive, not play games or catch up with an old high school buddy. Unless it is part of your job, your social media activities should be saved for lunch or break times. If you need to, use your phone and stay off the company computers for personal activity.
Lying to make yourself look good.
Real eyes realize real lies. Technology makes it easy to exaggerate your credentials. It also makes it easy to find out the truth. Small lies will hurt you in big ways, and someone will always bring the truth to light. The truth always comes out.
Coming to work when you’re very sick.
Your commitment to your job is admirable, but do not prove that you are a good worker by exposing the whole office to your flu. Work from home if you can, keep the office a healthy workplace, and think about your Team Members.
Flirting with your boss or Team Members.
Office romances make for exciting television, but more often than not, they lead to awkward situations, and sometimes even lawsuits. Do not play close to home. If you cannot find someone easily, there are online sites you can use.
Responding when you’re angry.
The only thing more stressful than an angry outburst in the office is the guilt and fear of repercussions. Find ways to take a break, and control your anger so that you act reasonably and professionally.
Disrupting people from their work.
Just because you want to laze off, it does not mean that those around you have the same lack of work ethic. Respect other people’s right to pursue advancement. Many people use headphones to signal that they are unavailable to chat because they are either listening to something important or they are in their work zone. Respect their space and send an email or wait until they take their headphones off.
Have your ringtone loud.
There is no reason to let your phone ring out annoyingly loud. If you are expecting a call, keep your phone on vibrate in your pocket, or on silent on your desk where you can see it ring. Team Members shouldn’t be privy to every text or phone call they receive.
Making your personal life the office focus.
Yes, you are a human being, and that means you have feelings. But learning to control when and where those feelings are expressed is key.
Not everyone wants to hear about the latest chapter in your rocky relationship drama. It may be worth mentioning to your boss if something serious happens, like a death in the family or a divorce.
Otherwise, make sure you are not letting your feelings run you when you should be concentrating on the task at hand.
Creating conspiracies.
When you instigate a disruption in a Team atmosphere, you accomplish nothing but low morale and productivity. Be forthright with the Team, and work to solve problems instead of creating them.
Whining or yelling at anyone.
Things can get frustrating at times, but there is never a justification for acting unprofessionally. Harness your inner adult, and remain calm, rational, and pleasant to get the problem solved.
Lawrence Jughoman
Software Quality Specialist
