These 10 Habits are Making You Look Unprofessional
Posted April 25th, 2017
We all have moments where we don’t come across as the most professional, but typically these are few and far between for individuals in the working world. However, certain habits that make their way into your everyday workplace activities can harm your reputation in a very significant way. To help make sure you aren’t hurting your chances of being taken seriously on the job, here are ten habits you need to curb ASAP.
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Unnecessary Profanity
If you accidentally smash your finger in a drawer, most people will give you a pass if a bit of profanity slips through your lips. But, if you use it as filler in conversation or use it to describe something that could easily be spoken about with more appropriate language, you aren’t going to be seen as very professional.
Choosing to curse simply because it is easier than selecting another word comes off as lazy and may even be considered disrespectful. And, at a minimum, it makes you look as though your lack creativity and care when it comes to language.
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Regular Tardiness
Being late on a regular basis suggests you don’t know how to manage your time, which isn’t a great impression in the workplace. Additionally, it is disrespectful to the people stuck waiting for you or who have to catch you up after the fact because you couldn’t arrange to be on time.
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Ogling
At times, we can’t help but notice the people who cross our paths. And, while a quick glance might be unavoidable, blatantly leering isn’t professional. People need to know you have the self-control and self-awareness to manage your actions when at work. Otherwise, you might be seen as the office creep instead of the professional you are hoping to be.
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Unrealistic Optimism
Optimism can be an asset at work, especially if it helps you dig in and manage a tough task. But, trading common sense for an unrealistically bright perspective makes you seem disconnected from reality. If a situation truly is dire, then acknowledge it for what it is and don’t try to hide the fact it looks rough. Then, consider what steps are necessary to turn things around.
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Unreliability
If you say you are going to handle a task or be at a specific place and regularly don’t follow through, you aren’t going to be seen as an asset. Professionals work to meet their commitments. Those who don’t are just seen as flighty.
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Poor Organization
Unless you are in the unique positions to be able to handle issues one at a time, you likely need to be reasonably well organized to keep things straight. Letting emails build up, leaving files scattered about, and ignoring that flashing voicemail light means you don’t have access to all of the information when you need it. Not only can this hurt you at work, but it can also lead to trouble when you speak with clients or customers without knowing the whole story.
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Lack of Eloquence
While no one expects you to deliver a high-quality monologue at the drop of a hat, you should be able to maintain a level of eloquence when you speak. If you find yourself sprinkling your conversation with “like,” “totally,” and “um” every time you speak, you aren’t going to leave the best impression.
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Hoarding Information
When it comes to your private life, feel free to be guarded about the information you share. However, when it comes to details that matter on the job, keeping secrets typically only hurt your reputation. Don’t hide facts that clients, customers, or coworkers need or you’ll leave them doubting whether you can be trusted.
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Overpromising
At work, and even in life, it is best only to make promises that you know you can deliver. Otherwise, you’ll be known as someone who eventually lets everyone down, and that won’t help you professionally.
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Dishonesty
Lying and cheating are typically considered unacceptable in any environment. And, when you get caught, it’s hard to recover from the harm it will do to your reputation.
If you are looking for more tips, or are looking for a new position, the professionals at Bayside Solutions have the information you need. Contact us today.
