Credibility and integrity are difficult to earn and easy to lose. A reputation lost is a heavy penalty for some mistakes. We all know of some people at work, whom we do not trust, or whom we avoid at the coffee machine. Let’s not be one of them.
Here are 5 things you should never do at work.
Stay above the rumour vine
It is a known fact that people who gossip with you, also gossip about you. So do not participate in this crude form of conversations. Also, you may be hampering some honest person’s character by spreading rumours. A pair of nurses from a hospital in Wisconsin once lost their job for discussing their patient on Facebook and sharing his X-ray to corroborate their rumour.
Backstabbing
Never throw a colleague under the bus to save your own self. This cowardly act only reflects on your integrity. And also, you never know whom you may need in the future. It is important to have people on your side for perspective times. This has happened so many times, and yet it is always a lesson. So many people have lost their job for abusing their bosses, before the conference call is over. It’s better to not backstab at all to be on the safer side.
Do not steal
This basic tenet applies at work too. Do not steal someone’s ideas, credit or work. Plagiarism in any form is a big no. Also people will not trust you with their thoughts if they know you are a rat in disguise.
Do not forget your manners
Do not yell in public, or get violent at work. Office is meant for mature folks, so any disagreement can be resolved in peaceful manner. Civic manners are a basic expectation, and it is foolhardy to lose credibility over something so fundamental.
Do not hurt people’s sentiments
Never talk about religion, politics or sex at work. These are private concerns, and you do not want to alienate someone by hurting their sentiments over these subjects. In 2004, Lynne Gobbell lost her job because her car had a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker while her boss was a Bush supporter.
So on This Bring Your Manners To Work day, celebrate by promising yourself to stay away from these cheap tricks at work.
