It’s kind of like driving. We all think we’re better than every other driver out there. Still, chances are, we’re guilty of at least some of these bad habits at work.
So let’s open our minds together, shall we. Maybe there’s something to be learned. This week, I added some links I found to deepen our understanding. Enjoy!
1) Multitasking – multitasking can be necessary for busy people, but when speaking with someone else, looking at your phone, can be a real turn off and alienate people. Need more evidence? Check out this to provoke some thought (I don’t necessarily agree with every word, but food for thought) and this.
2) Negative body language – negative body language is more than just crossing your arms in front of you. Your body language can signal to your employees if you are a leader and inspire confidence or a lack of it. For example, don’t refuse to nod, employees need to know they’ve earned your approval – if, in fact, they have. Overall, don’t adopt a hostile facial expression or position your body in a way that suggests they are not interested in you’re your employee is saying. Listening well and with your whole body will convince your employees you are hearing them and give them confidence, which is good for everyone. Messy, messy, messy – people will judge you if your office is messy. They will think of you as a slob. After all, if you can’t keep your desk clean, is your mind also in disarray? It doesn’t have to look like you’ve hired a maid to come twice a day, but it shouldn’t look like your college dorm. Here’s the caveat: if you are a genius, if it’s the way you work well and if your work is so good, it makes up for it than be messy! If you’re the Michael Jackson of your industry and it works for you, keep on keepin’ on.
3) Being too cute – there is a time and a place for a smiley faced emoji, but you can overdo it easily. Five/email = too much. One = just enough. Be yourself, but be thoughtful about your use of emojis and exclamation points. You want people to take you seriously.
4) Gossip – it’s like a boomerang. It will always come back to haunt you. Here’s some advice for how managers can fix it.
And just for fun, here’s some true tales of bad habits from bosses that will make you cringe, courtesy of Forbes. Or, if you have a Wall Street Journal subscription, check out How to Break Your Bad Work Habits.
And don’t pick your nose…someone will eventually catch you J
By Blair Koch
