3 Workplace Mistakes That Make You Seem Unprofessional
Jessica Higgins was recently re-published for her work on studying how to prevent toxic workplace cultures through micro-behavior changes.
Her original article can be found here
And her re-published work is here but, since it is behind a paywall, you can read the article for free, reprinted below.
1. The “pass back”
We all have that one coworker that passes the ball on work. You send an email for help and instead of answers, you get forwarded along, or told to go look somewhere else and essentially just figure it out for yourself. You may think you’re being efficient, but nothing can make you look more unprofessional. If you don’t even try to answer a question, or help someone out, it rings pretty loud and clear that you don’t care about your coworkers or your job.
2. Interrupting others
Welcome to the post #METOO work environment. Let’s all just let each other complete sentences from now on. No matter how important you think you are, and what you have to say is, it’s never ok to shut other people down mid-thought. You come off as unprofessional, egotistical, and if you happen to do this more to your female coworkers well, surprise, you’re a chauvinist.
3. Pulling rank
“The last time I checked, I pay you to do the work here.” – I actually heard someone say this recently. The world of work has changed, people have options, and work relationships must be mutually beneficial or you’re going to come off as irrelevant to the work cultures of today and the near future. And you will definitely lose your best employees along the way. Leaders must be mentors to thrive these days. That’s why everyone in the older generations is so scared of millennials because millennials demand this power dynamic. Rank is the new unprofessional.
Jessica Higgins, JD MBA BB is a researcher, consultant and marketing communications professional. Her research and publications help executives and everyday people better understand the impacts of emerging cultural trends. She holds executive and board positions in companies in technology, consulting and the arts. Her book, The 10 Most Effective Business Communication Skills: Practical Strategies from the World's Greatest Leaders will release in August of 2018.
