There are big mistakes that can instantly ruin your reputation at work or even get you fired. But more commonly, it's the gradual accumulation of smaller offenses that keeps employees from getting ahead in their careers.
Bad
habits, such as giving curt responses to emails or keeping to yourself all day,
could be hurting your reputation — whether you realize it or not.
Here are
19 bad behaviors that will slowly erode your credibility and cost you in the
end.
1. You don't adapt to the company culture.
Every
workplace operates under its own set of social customs. Not making an effort to
assimilate into this culture can make you seem disapproving or judgmental.
This
holier-than-thou attitude is alienating to coworkers and makes it seem like you
don't care about forming positive relationships in the office.
2. You make
excuses.
Not
taking responsibility for your mistakes and failures will catch up with you.
Waiting until the day a project is due to explain why you're behind, for
example, tells your boss that you can't manage your time well.
3. You do the
bare minimum.
Even if
you always meet deadlines and consistently turn in quality work, doing only the
bare minimum makes you seem complacent.
On the
other hand, looking for opportunities instead of waiting for them to fall into
your lap shows your boss that you're driven and care about your future at the
company.
4. You don't
follow through.
When you
fail to do what you say you're going to do, from restocking the printer to copy
editing your neighbor's report, you garner a reputation for being unreliable.
Keeping
your word shows that you're accountable and can be trusted with more
responsibilities when it comes time to be considered for a promotion.
5. You dress
like a slob.
Once
you're settled into a position, it can be easy to let your appearance fall by
the wayside. However, failing to look put-together undermines your credibility
and authority and may make you seem like you don't care.
Remember
the age-old saying: Dress for the job you want.
6. You're a
pessimist.
If you're
habitually sporting a bad attitude, you become a nuisance to your boss and can
drag down your team.
Constantly
whining and complaining won't make you pleasant to be around, and certainly
won't entice your boss to keep you around for long.
7. You ignore
coworkers.
Forming
friendships with your colleagues is just as important as cultivating
relationships with higher-ups.
Strive to
be known and well-liked, so that coworkers want to share valuable information
with you and help you when you need it.
8. You're
defensive.
Your boss
doesn't expect you to be perfect, but constantly being defensive makes you look
unprofessional.
If you're
unwilling to listen to constructive criticism or own up to your mistakes, it
tells your boss that you're unlikely to push yourself to improve.
9. You write
brusque emails.
No matter
how friendly you are in person, terse language can easily be misconstrued in an
email. Even if it's unintentional, rude emails immediately sour your reputation
around the office and keep others from wanting to interact with you.
10. You
procrastinate.
Putting
off projects until the last minute not only puts stress on you, it hinders the
progress of every other person relying on your portion of the work. If
something goes wrong, you'll likely be the first one blamed.
11. You don't
make meaningful contributions.
Saying
something in a meeting just for the sake of speaking doesn't add anything
productive.
Instead,
prepare ahead of time, and remember quality over quantity when sharing ideas.
12. You're
always late.
Frequent
tardiness signifies to coworkers that something else is more important to you
and that you don't value their time. It paints you as disrespectful and
uncaring, making people wary of trusting you.
No matter
what it takes, always find a way to be punctual.
13. You never
stop talking.
Yes, it's
great to get to know your coworkers, but if you're constantly socializing, it
prevents everyone around you from getting their work done.
Keep the
chatter to your lunch hour and breaks to avoid annoying others and becoming the
person no one wants to work with.
14. You ignore
emails.
Failing
to answer emails in a reasonable timeframe not only frustrates those who need
responses from you, it signifies to colleagues that they aren't worth your
time, can cause you to miss deadlines, and generally paints you as
unprofessional.
Although
answering each one as soon as it's received is impractical, making a conscious
effort to stay on top of your inbox goes a long way.
15. You're
rude.
Doing
good work doesn't matter if no one wants to work with you. Not only does
rudeness alienate coworkers, but most managers won't tolerate abrasive and
inconsiderate employees.
Remember,
being polite is a key to winning people over.
16. You don't
focus on long-term goals.
Though
it's important to be engaged with your everyday work, it's equally crucial to
think about the future of your career.
Don't
look at opportunities in terms of instant perks — like a bigger paycheck — but
instead consider how they'll affect your career overall.
17. You ignore
your network.
Failing
to connect with other people in your industry puts you at a major disadvantage,
especially if you're early on in your career.
Even if
you've been in the industry for a while, it's still important to keep in touch
with your network or you run the risk of being left out in the cold when you
really need help.
18. You're
arrogant.
No matter
how experienced you are, acting like a know-it-all will quickly irritate your
colleagues. There's always something more to learn, so find a way to be open to
new ideas.
19. You avoid
feedback.
If your
boss asks you to make a change, do it — even if you think your way is better.
The reality is that even if your process is superior, not responding to
feedback makes you look pompous, stubborn, and difficult to work with.
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