People develop both good and bad habits. Some habits in the workplace can be disastrous for the career. It is wise to know what habits should stay at home to promote your profile and reputation. One has to identify one’s bad habits and think of alternatives to replace it with. If one wants to make an impression at work, one has to get a grip on the bad habits in the workplace. The challenging part is breaking bad habits.
COMMON BAD HABITS IN THE WORKPLACE:
Bad habits in the workplace can make the environment unfriendly, unproductive, and even unsafe. Here are some of the most common bad habits in the workplace:- Talking constantly: Working next to a person who gives a running narration on their activities such as “my computer is slow”, “this spreadsheet is giving me a headache” or “what did I do with my pen?” can be extremely annoying;
- Sharing personal details: Telling others about your wild weekend will not give a good impression and can result in a conversation on overconsumption before the next office outing;
- Eating unpleasant-smelling food: Tuna sandwiches are healthy, but is it office friendly?
- The gossip girl: This is a person who is perceived as being unable to keep anything confidential and has the overwhelming desire to add something to a story. This can affect your career;
- Tardiness: Late to arrive at work, late from lunch or a break, and late for meetings. Lateness affects productivity and can even put the job in jeopardy;
- Appropriate office attire: If a shirt has big yellow stains under the arms or the hem of a skirt is closer to the belt than the knees, one might consider a new outfit or two;
- Playing “treasure hunt” at the office: People can fall into the bad habit of losing things. It can be a very important document and everyone ends up looking for it.
- Confusing informal with disrespectful: Forgetting to show respect to authority is a bad habit and also bad manners. There is a fine line between informal and being disrespectful. Know you are crossing the line when you are sarcastic or cutting comments to your supervisor or boss;
- If people can smell you before they see you: It is crucial not to smell like a bar when going to work. This can result in people disrespecting you.
BREAKING BAD HABITS IN THE WORKPLACE:
After recognizing your bad habits in the workplace, the challenging part is breaking it. Minor adjustments can increase productivity and image. Not every aspect of work is fun, but you do not have to voice your negative feelings to co-workers. Make punctuality a priority. A proper dress code will send the message that you are taking your job seriously. In order to adopt a new behavior, one has to abandon the old bad habits in the workplace.by Kathy Goldman
