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You know that feeling when you’ve worked at one place for a while? You know, that feeling of being committed, chill, and comfortable?
You know you’re not going anywhere anytime soon, and hopefully, neither is your job.
Well, regardless of how long you’ve been working at one place, it’s REALLY important to still keep things professional, especially if you’ve got your eye on that upcoming promotion or big cash money bonus.
We’re all prone to picking up a few bad habits, but be sure to check yourself so you don’t wreck yourself by ensuring you haven’t settled into any of these unprofessional habits on the regular:
1. SHOWING UP LATE
Making it to your 9am meeting everyday at 9:05? Sure, it’s only 5 minutes and probably not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but believe it or not, people notice.
If you’re running late once in a blue moon – don’t worry. It happens to everyone every now and then. Just don’t be the person that everyone knows will always show up late.
Make an effort to make it to your meetings on time, and to the office – even if it means you have to leave your house just 10 minutes earlier.
2. COMPLAINING
You’ve got a really big work load and you’re tired and you’re hungry – we know! …And, we feel you!
BUT, the moment you start telling the entire office floor how hard you have it – you’re spreading the negativity.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work there are plenty of ways to deal with it, but complaining to your co-workers shouldn’t be one of them.
Don’t be unprofessional, and don’t be a Christina the Complainer. Just get the work done and vent to your BFF over half priced bottles of wine.
3. INTERRUPTING
No one, and we repeat NO ONE, appreciates an interrupter.
And you know just the kind of person we’re talking about: the know-it-all, lack of social awareness individual that meddles their way into sentences – before you can even finish your thought.
No one wants to be girl interrupted – so just simmer down and let that person finish speaking. It’s way more respectful, and a lot easier than it may seem.
4. GOSSIPING
Along with Christina the Complainer, you know who no one else likes? A Susie Shittalker.
And, that’s just the kind of stuff that’ll catch up to you in your career.
Sure, it’s crazy news that Bry in Billin’ got let go, and that Jennifer picked a totally non-worthy person for the promotion which is SO unfair.
…But really, who cares?
Talking smack at work never leads to any good, so avoid it by all means and leave the conversation the moment you feel it going there.
5. OVER-PROMISING AND UNDER-DELIVERING
You gotta walk the talk, baby. If you’re going to claim that you’ll have the perfect business case built by EOD Thursday and we only see that doc come through the following Monday – then girl, we’ve got a problem.
The worst thing you can do is talk up a huge game and not deliver on it. It shows poor reliability, low ability to execute, and if you keep doing it – no one’s going to believe a word you say.
Better option? Give yourself some buffer room. For example: Commit to getting it done by Thursday (Actually knowing you should be done by Tuesday) and send it over early. Nothing like impressing the big boss with an early handover!
6. PUTTING OFF THE SMALL STUFF
So you’re a big shot that’s super busy, which means emails and small things don’t matter… well you’re wrong!
If you think ignoring emails and never getting the “small stuff” done reflects well on you, it doesn’t.
Sure – priorities are super important when you’ve got a lot on the go, but it’s important to set aside a bit of time each day (maybe 30 minutes in the morning, or 30 minutes EOD) to check your emails and respond to those that merit acknowledgement or a response.
Again, reliability people. Even senior execs who are arguably the most busy around, with all-day meetings, travel plans, and more, have time to promptly respond to emails as needed.
7. DRESSING INAPPROPRIATELY
Long gone are the days of perfectly hemmed skirts, tailored suits, and “strict business” attire. Most office settings are now moving towards a casually dressed environment to mimic the trend of the agile and hip start-up scene.
But hey – casual does not mean weekend casual.
Though we love a good pair of ripped jeans (and would argue this could actualllly be rocked in the office if paired appropriately — but that’s a whole diff conversation), casual dress code definitely don’t mean:
- Showing off some cleavage with low cut tops
- Giving everyone a sneak peek of those chiseled (and hard earned) abs with a crop top
- Flaunting an apparently “inappropriate” amount of leg 9-5
- Flip Flops. So comfy, but so not professional.
You still want to look well put together, classy, clean and professional, so don’t let what you’re wearing defer from your reputation / capability of doing the job.
Overwhelmed by the thought of being on your professional game? Just remember: if you can stay alive 9-5, Friday is always at most, only 5 days away.
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