‘Bad habit’ can mean different things to different people. For some, taking office stationery is perfectly alright since it’s ‘provided’ but some may see that as stealing. However, what you do in the office could actually deter you from reaching your career goals. Here are a few common bad office habits and if any of them sound familiar, break them!
INAPPROPRIATE COMPUTER TIME
Now that most, if not all offices provide their employees with a computer, it has increased the chances of us becoming distracted. 10 years ago, it would’ve been Solitaire on your computer but now, with the boom of social media, many of us are scrolling endlessly and disregarding our work!
Tip: Treat social media time as personal time and thus, do it on your own time such as your lunch break or after work.
NOT BEING ORGANISED
If you notice that you’ve been missing deadlines or having trouble prioritising tasks, your boss would have noticed too. Jumping from task to task may seem efficient but it won’t work if you don’t set proper goals.
Tip: Have a weekly and monthly plan. There should be goals and also what needs to be delivered by the end of the week to make sure you’re doing everything you should.
BEING A NEGATIVE NANCY OR NIGEL
Some people will always see the glass as half-empty and this could impact your work life. Being angry at your partner or maybe your car broke down this morning; this energy needs to be taken out of the workplace. Nobody likes being around someone who’s sour and irritable. It isn’t your co-worker’s fault that your car battery died!
Tip: When you walk into your workplace, no matter how angry or frustrated you are, take a deep breath and tell yourself, “They did not cause this, I can deal with this later.” If it’s a little difficult, force yourself to smile and your spirits will inevitably lift with the corners of your mouth!
No matter what your bad habit may be, if someone tells you off about it, remember not to be defensive and listen. Most importantly is to apologise especially when you’ve done something wrong.
Reference: Monster Worldwide Inc.
