7/27/2019 Annoying & Bad Habits at Work
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Annoying Habits at Work
A big part of many jobs is to collaborate effectively with
others. That's tough todo if your colleagues and supervisors find
you irritating and it's easier than youmight think to rub people
the wrong way, even when you're sitting at your desk
minding your own business.
1. You're Unprepared
Showing up for meetings, interviews or arranged work sessions
without theequipment or data that you need demonstrates a lack of
respect for yourcoworkers and yourself and it wastes time. Get off
on the right foot, and makelike a scout and be prepared.
1.1 Planning Poorly
Spend your first hour at work wondering what you should work
ontoday. So many people, when they leave their office at 4 to 6
p.m.,
really have no clue what they're going to do first thing the
followingmorning. It's more efficient to plan your next day before
you leavework.
2. You're Not a Team Player
You have to be willing to pitch in when another member of the
team needshelp. There's nothing more annoying than watching
somebody do a crosswordpuzzle while you're buried in work and if a
coworker needs a little time off torun an important errand, be
flexible and help out when you can.
3. You're Not Self-Reliant
Ask for help only when you really need it. Giving up on the
paper jam afteronly one try and expecting a coworker to fix it
because you know he/she candoes not contribute to good team spirit.
Try everything you can to solve yourown problem before involving
somebody else.
4. You, Umm, Smell
Your scent is important, especially when you're working in a
small, poorlyventilated space with lots of other people around. Be
considerate of yourneighbors by taking care not to generate strong
smells that will permeatetheir space. For instance, don't eat eggs
or onions in the office. If you smoke,be sure you air yourself out
before you walk back in the office. The same goes
for colognes. Fragrance is a very personal choice, so it should
be reserved forthose who are close to you, not 20 yards away.
5. You're Loud on the Phone
Loud telephone conversations can be offensive to your neighbors,
so try tokeep your voice low and even and also keep personal calls
short. Phone fightsor, worse yet, phone foreplay can really drive
one up a wall after a certainpoint. Remember that you are not in
your living room.
6. You're Unhealthy
If you're sick, stay home. If you have the sniffles or must come
in, cover your
mouth and do whatever you can to avoid infecting your
coworkers.
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7/27/2019 Annoying & Bad Habits at Work
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7. You Walk Like an Elephant
Try to move around the office quietly to avoid disturbing the
people aroundyou and if you must speak to another colleague, keep
your voice down.
8. Your Cellphone Is Always On
Unless absolutely necessary, cellphones should be turned off
while you're inthe office. If you need to keep your phone on, use a
soft or silent ringer orvibrate mode.
9. Your Computer Volume Is Blasting
Nobody wants to hear somebody else's bells and whistles when
they're tryingto concentrate.
10. You Shake Hands Like a Fish and Avoid Eye Contact
When somebody won't look at you in the eye or give some energy
in theirhandshake, it feel like they're avoiding or snubbing you in
some way. Give afirm handshake and a friendly smile.
11. Spending the Day in 'Email Reaction Mode'
Answering every email as it comes in may make you seem
responsive, but it'snot productive. You feel like you're being a
hero because you're dealing withall your email, but it has nothing
to do with achieving your goals.
12. Putting Personal Life Before Work
Everyone has emergencies from time to time. But it's annoying to
have to fill
in for the colleague who is late every morning because they
checking on theirhome-remodeling project, or who misses an entire
afternoon because theyscheduled a routine dentist appointment.
13. Being Late for Meetings
People who show up 5 or 10 minutes late for a meeting cause a
"dominoeffect,". Meetings later that day may be thrown off schedule
because theearlier ones ran late. And people who show up on time
feel their time is beingwasted.
14. Using Inappropriate Humor
Your coworkers may not appreciate your sense of humor. Skip the
off-color orracially targeted jokes, and be careful about sensitive
subjects such as politicsand religion.
15. Not Caring About Your Work
People like coworkers who are enthusiastic about what they do.
Show that youtake pride in your job by presenting yourself well,
communicating clearly anddoing your best work.
@PIJ 2 | P a g e
