There are big mistakes that can ruin your reputation at work instantly, or even get you fired. But bad habits such as giving your bosses curt answers or doing the bare minimum could also be damaging your reputation.
Here are some bad behaviours compiled by Emmie Martin of Business Insider that gradually erode your credibility and can really cost you in the long run.
Remember that when it comes to your career these days, the safe bet is to try to be the best. That does not necessarily mean constantly competing with your colleagues, but becoming a better version of yourself every day. And don’t just be good: be excellent.
1. Not adapting to the company culture.
Every workplace runs on its own set of social customs. Failing to make an effort to fit into that culture will make it look as if you disapprove of it or question it.
This attitude hurts your relationships with co-workers and makes it seem that you don’t care about building positive relationships at the office.
2. Not taking responsibility.
Failing to take responsibility for your mistakes and failures can come back to haunt you. If you are given a project and don’t deliver it on time, you should explain to your boss why you were unable to manage your time well.
3. Doing the bare minimum.
Even if you always meet your deadlines, doing only the minimum makes you look complacent.
On the other hand, seeking out responsibilities instead of waiting for them to land in your lap shows your boss that you are eager to work and that you care about the company’s future.
See also: If they find out I’m on Facebook, I’m fired. And he was
(Read: 6 things employees wish they could tell their bosses, but don’t)
4. Not keeping your promises.
When you fail to do what you said you would do, you build a reputation as someone who is unreliable.
Keeping your word shows that you are a responsible person who can be trusted when it comes to being considered for a promotion.
5. Being a pessimist.
If you regularly have a bad attitude, you can drag your whole team down and become a nuisance to your boss.
Constant whining and complaining won’t make you likeable, and it certainly won’t give your boss reasons to keep you at the company for long.
(Read: 8 ways to kill your employees’ motivation)
6. Ignoring your co-workers.
Making friends with your colleagues is as important as cultivating relationships with your superiors.
Making an effort to be known and well liked, so that colleagues want to share valuable information with you, will help you when you need it.
7. Being defensive.
Your boss doesn’t expect you to be perfect, but being constantly on the defensive makes you look unprofessional.
If you are not willing to listen to constructive criticism or accept your mistakes, you are telling your boss that you are unlikely to improve.
8. Writing curt emails.
No matter how friendly you are in person, terse language is easily misread in an email. Even if it isn’t intentional, rude emails sink your reputation at the office immediately.
9. Procrastinating.
Putting projects off until the last minute holds up the work of other people who depend on your part, and if something goes wrong, you are likely to be the first one blamed.
10. Not making meaningful contributions.
Saying something in a meeting just for the sake of talking adds nothing productive.
Instead, prepare in advance, and remember that quality beats quantity when it comes to sharing ideas.
11. Always being late.
Frequent lateness tells your co-workers and bosses that something matters more to you than work and that you don’t value other people’s time enough. It will make you look disrespectful and indifferent, and people will stop trusting you.
12. Never stopping talking.
Yes, it’s great to get to know your co-workers, but if you are constantly socialising, you stop everyone around you from working.
Keep the chatter to lunchtime and breaks so you don’t disturb others and become the person nobody wants to work with.
13. Being rude.
Doing good work doesn’t matter if nobody wants to work with you. Rudeness drives away co-workers, and most bosses won’t tolerate rude, inconsiderate employees either.
Remember that being courteous is key to winning people over.
14. Ignoring your professional network.
Failing to connect with other people in your industry puts you at a significant disadvantage, especially if you are at the start of your career.
Even if you have been in the industry for a while, it is still important to keep in touch with your professional network, or you risk being left out when you really need help.
15. Being arrogant.
No matter how much experience you have, acting like a know-it-all quickly irritates your colleagues. There is always more to learn, so it is better to stay open to new ideas.
Further reading
- 9 types of people you need to hire in your company
- How to be more persuasive and get people to do what we want
Featured image: W.carter, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
