Etiquette. The word alone has the power to dredge up childhood memories
of dinnertime reprimands: Elbows off the table! Napkin in your lap!
Excuse yourself before leaving the table! Most of us likely have
mastered table manners by now (or at least know not to talk with a full
mouth). But what about office etiquette?
1. THAT TEXT (OR FACEBOOK UPDATE) CAN WAIT
Hey… it’s just a quick text to a friend confirming your after-work plans. No problem there, right? If it happens during a meeting or presentation. As harmless as it may seem, the person you’re supposed to be giving your attention to will notice, and it can end up straining workplace relationships. “It’s kind of a snub,”. Even outside of a meeting, using social media and doing other personal stuff distracts from the work at hand. Bottom line: no one is that good at multitasking, and productivity will suffer.
2. PRETEND THERE’S A WALL
For the most part, the days of private offices and high cubicle walls are gone. But does an open workplace mean personal space is a thing of the past? No. You should pretend that the walls are still there. Send an e-mail to see if someone is available to chat, rather than just barging into their space, don’t sneak up behind someone, announce yourself as you approach and knock on the edge of their desk when you arrive. You should “bend over backwards” to respect co-workers’ personal space.
3. FOR WORKPLACE FASHION, GO WITH THE CROWD
To dress up or dress down, that is the question. The answer: Dress to fit the workplace. “You want to blend in,” “Fit in with those around you.” Use the boss as a gauge. If the boss comes in in khakis and a short sleeve shirt, that’s a good indication that casual dress is appropriate for the office.
4. KEEP THAT PHONE CALL TO YOURSELF
That call may be important to you, but chances are it’s not vital your co-workers hear it as well. Just like gossip, loud phone conversations in the office can distract people from their work. phone conversations in the workplace should be kept down to a “polite murmur.” And if it’s a personal call, take it elsewhere. Also, don’t use speaker phone (unless, of course, it’s necessary for the call).
5. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU CAN STILL LEARN SOME THINGS
No one says you’re not great at what you do. Likely, you wouldn’t have been hired if you weren’t. Confidence is good. Arrogance, on the other hand, is not. “Sometimes people feel like they don’t have to pay their dues…like they don’t have to learn from those who came before them,”. Don’t hold back your good ideas. But have respect for what people already have done at the company, even if you would have done it differently.
6. DON’T SEARCH FOR JOBS ON THE JOB
So, you want a new job. That’s fine. But, keep your job search separate from your current job. Don’t use
company resources to look for new employment. It demonstrates a lack of respect and loyalty to your current employer. And don’t tell co-workers about your job search. The information will leak out (we all know not everyone adheres to the rule about office gossip) and can damage your position at your current job before you’ve found a new one.
7. GOSSIP ON YOUR OWN TIME
Don’t be the source of gossip in the office — whether it’s'about your life or someone else’s — or a participant in it. Gossip distracts people from their work and can create an unprofessional environment. That’s not to say you have to quit gossip cold turkey, deflecting gossip in the workplace – saying you’re too busy to chat, for example – and moving the conversation to a personal space, such as meeting for a drink after work.
1. THAT TEXT (OR FACEBOOK UPDATE) CAN WAIT
Hey… it’s just a quick text to a friend confirming your after-work plans. No problem there, right? If it happens during a meeting or presentation. As harmless as it may seem, the person you’re supposed to be giving your attention to will notice, and it can end up straining workplace relationships. “It’s kind of a snub,”. Even outside of a meeting, using social media and doing other personal stuff distracts from the work at hand. Bottom line: no one is that good at multitasking, and productivity will suffer.
2. PRETEND THERE’S A WALL
For the most part, the days of private offices and high cubicle walls are gone. But does an open workplace mean personal space is a thing of the past? No. You should pretend that the walls are still there. Send an e-mail to see if someone is available to chat, rather than just barging into their space, don’t sneak up behind someone, announce yourself as you approach and knock on the edge of their desk when you arrive. You should “bend over backwards” to respect co-workers’ personal space.
3. FOR WORKPLACE FASHION, GO WITH THE CROWD
To dress up or dress down, that is the question. The answer: Dress to fit the workplace. “You want to blend in,” “Fit in with those around you.” Use the boss as a gauge. If the boss comes in in khakis and a short sleeve shirt, that’s a good indication that casual dress is appropriate for the office.
4. KEEP THAT PHONE CALL TO YOURSELF
That call may be important to you, but chances are it’s not vital your co-workers hear it as well. Just like gossip, loud phone conversations in the office can distract people from their work. phone conversations in the workplace should be kept down to a “polite murmur.” And if it’s a personal call, take it elsewhere. Also, don’t use speaker phone (unless, of course, it’s necessary for the call).
5. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU CAN STILL LEARN SOME THINGS
No one says you’re not great at what you do. Likely, you wouldn’t have been hired if you weren’t. Confidence is good. Arrogance, on the other hand, is not. “Sometimes people feel like they don’t have to pay their dues…like they don’t have to learn from those who came before them,”. Don’t hold back your good ideas. But have respect for what people already have done at the company, even if you would have done it differently.
6. DON’T SEARCH FOR JOBS ON THE JOB
So, you want a new job. That’s fine. But, keep your job search separate from your current job. Don’t use
company resources to look for new employment. It demonstrates a lack of respect and loyalty to your current employer. And don’t tell co-workers about your job search. The information will leak out (we all know not everyone adheres to the rule about office gossip) and can damage your position at your current job before you’ve found a new one.
7. GOSSIP ON YOUR OWN TIME
Don’t be the source of gossip in the office — whether it’s'about your life or someone else’s — or a participant in it. Gossip distracts people from their work and can create an unprofessional environment. That’s not to say you have to quit gossip cold turkey, deflecting gossip in the workplace – saying you’re too busy to chat, for example – and moving the conversation to a personal space, such as meeting for a drink after work.
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