A few small workplace behaviors could be costing you your reputation at work, and you may not even know it. If you’re aware of your behavior and actions, you can control how you’re perceived. Let’s take a look at five behaviors that seem harmless enough, but have a big impact on your credibility.
Trying to be perfect.
No one is perfect, period. Perfection is impossible. Too often people put themselves in situations that could have easily been avoided had they not been trying to maintain the false notion of perfection. Perfection often prevents people from asking questions, and therefore leads to completely avoidable mistakes.
Accept help from others, and ask for help when you need it. That does not make you seem weak or incompetent, in fact, it makes you seem stronger. It shows that you’re a team player and aware of your limitations. If you don’t know how to do something or need further clarification on what’s expected of you, ask those questions. It’s much better to ask for help that leads you to doing something right, rather than staying silent and doing something wrong.
Not taking responsibility for your mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes at some point in time, and that’s okay. What’s wrong is when you try to shift the blame off of yourself and try to pin your mistake on someone else. Playing the blame game only hurts your credibility and trustworthiness. It damages your reputation and it’s extremely hard to rebuild trust when it’s been broken in this way.
Instead, you should own up to your mistakes. Admit to what you did and offer suggestions on how to rectify it. Your boss will appreciate the honesty, and if you’re working in a group, so will your teammates. The way to move on from a mistake is to find the quickest way to put it in the past by finding a solution, not by hiding it.
Making promises but not following through.
If you make a promise that you’ll do something, make sure that you do it. If you find yourself getting close to a deadline you promised and you know you aren’t going to be able to meet it, talk to whoever’s in charge of the project. Explain your situation and ask for help or if an extension is possible. It’s better to ask in advance, rather than at the last minute or not at all.
Be ready to answer the question of why you’re not able to meet the deadline you promised. If it’s because of lack of preparation or lack of work on your part, then be prepared to not get any sympathy or much extra help. If it’s because of factors beyond your control, your boss will be much more willing to provide you with extra resources or time to ensure that the project is completed on time.
Excessive complaining.
There’s nothing wrong with talking about your frustrations at work on occasion – but be mindful of how much you’re doing it and to whom you’re complaining to. You don’t want to be known as the person who finds fault in everything. Leave your venting to your friends outside of work, or write in a diary to get something off your chest in the spur of the moment. One thing to never do – badmouth the company or your boss to your coworkers. That always finds a way to the very people you’re talking about, no matter how much confidentiality was promised.
This isn’t to say that you should never complain, just to be mindful of when you do. Use a three step process to decide if it’s worth it. First, take a breath and pause for a moment. It’s easy to have a knee-jerk reaction, especially when you’re angry. Second, think about why you’re complaining. Is it a legitimate problem or just something that’s annoying you? If it’s the latter, then it’s most likely not worth it. Third, if you decide to make the complaint, figure out how to frame it in a constructive way. Think ‘This person’s behavior is disruptive to the team.’ versus ‘This person is really obnoxious!’.
Being grumpy.
Everyone has days when they’re in a bad mood, unmotivated and would rather be anywhere other than at work. That’s fine when it happens occasionally, but not every day. Not only is it unprofessional, but it’s also draining for everyone around you. Emotions are contagious and negativity can spread quickly.
Your mood also affects the quality of your work and how you’re perceived. If you’re contributing to a project and putting in the work, but your mood is sullen, the work you’ve done might not be recognized fully. Being in a positive mood will help you be more productive, which in turn can boost your mood. It’s a win-win situation. Work may not be the most fun place to be, but you have to make the best of it.
Don’t worry if you exhibit any of these behaviors occasionally. It’s when the behavior is persistent that it’s damaging to your reputation. The more you’re aware of your actions, the less likely it is that you’ll fall into negative behavior patterns. Once you realize you’re doing something, it’s much easier to change your actions.
Source: forbes.com
Author: Ashirra Prossack