Image by Joseph Mucira from Pixabay
Appearances determine whether or not you’re respected in the workplace. This means you must be seen as as a professional.
The bottom-line for professionalism: Don’t give away your power. It’s also a prerequisite for leadership.
To maintain your power, here are eight basics:
1. Don’t spread rumors
As tempting as it is to gossip at the water cooler, don’t. By spreading negativity about others you’ll help cause trouble, resentment, as well as teamwork and morale issues.
2. Don’t complain about your boss
If you complain about your boss, it’s guaranteed that your negativity will reach your boss’s ears. Not only will you make workplace conditions worse, you’ll incur bad feelings from your supervisor.
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You’ll also be branded as a troublemaker, not a productive team member.
3. Don’t engage in office politics
Whatever office politics you think about, keep them to yourself.
4. Don’t discuss hot-button topics
The two salient hot-button topics are politics and religion. Unless you are aware for certain other people will agree with you, don’t discuss politics and religion.
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Passionate discussions might be fun, however, beware of long-term consequences such as angry discussions that lead to damaged relationships.
And if you’re concerned about your company losing potential revenue, be careful what you share on social media.
5. Don’t share too much personal information
Too much personal information would include details such as your pet peeves, surgeries or favorite sexual positions.
All of these and more will project an unprofessional image.
6. Don’t treat your peers as therapists
Understand that even people you think are your trustworthy coworkers, beware even they will tire of your personal details or will tell others.
Once such personal details are shared, they’re permanently embedded in the minds of others.
7. Don’t pursue a dubious office romance
By dubious office romance, I mean don’t flirt with your boss or your married coworker.
Sure, many people have found love at work. But for career success, an office romance must be on the up-and-up.
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Also, you must avoid such encounters with a peer on a business trip or a quickie interlude at an office party. Not only will such activities backfire for your career, you might also be accused of sexual harassment.
8. Job hunting – don’t discuss it nor do it while at work
If you discuss your job search, you might soon kill your current position. Gossiping about your job-hunting activities will get back to your boss.
Nor should you job search at work.
Finally, if you want to stop unprofessional behavior and thinking — to maintain your power — conduct a self-inventory. Frequently ask yourself the question: “Am I being productive in what I’m doing now?”
If the answer is no, you know what to do.
Good luck.
From the Coach’s Corner, here are related career tips:
Career Tips – How to Become Respected in the Workplace – To improve your career prospects, there are obvious things you could and should do. The first step would be to get a good mentor, but let’s delve deeper with 10 tips.
Frustrated at Work? Don’t Let Disappointment Define You – By not panicking or showing disappointment, it clearly shows you’re a strong, valuable employee. It lays a foundation that shows how laudable you are and that you’re ready for whatever happens next.
Art of Persuasion: How to Get People to Actually Listen to You – Have you ever felt invisible – where people aren’t listening to your viewpoints? Here are five recommendations to maximize your art of persuasion.
Boost Your Learning and Career by Improving Your Memory – If you’re looking to develop your brain power to advance your career or perhaps to become a leader, having a good memory is critical. Here are 20 tips.
5 Personality Traits for Personal and Professional Success – Five personality traits are important for overcoming stress and achieving goals academically, professionally and in personal relationships.
“Leadership is about vision and responsibility, not power.”
– Seth Berkley
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