5 office mistakes you should try to avoid

We spend a lot of our life at work so understandably our workplace has a big impact on our quality of life. That’s why good office etiquette is important to make sure your place of work runs smoothly and everyone is getting along. Sometimes these unspoken office rules aren’t really that clear and avoidable office mistakes are made. So we have provided some office etiquette tips to deal with the 5 biggest complaints people have about their colleagues so you can avoid them.

1. Lack of reliability

You are all on the same team and working towards a common goal (or should be!), so when one member doesn’t pull their weight it lets everyone down. Missing deadlines, consistently making mistakes, or never being on time are the most common complaints.  However there are simple fixes for breaches of office etiquette.

If you are finding it hard to make your deadlines or making mistakes, reach out to your manager. They are invested in you and your performance so having a friendly chat to make sure that you are both on the same page is important. Whether more training is needed, extra help from your teammates, or a more realistic goal setting for the team, you can work it out together before it becomes a problem.

2. Cleanliness 

COVID-19 and the impact of social distancing have made issues like hygiene control much more important in the office space. Office rules have changed, layouts have been rearranged and desk sharing is far less common now. But just because you are more distant from each other doesn’t mean you can get lax with your cleaning habits. While a messy desk might make you more creative it doesn’t it might not impress your colleagues so keep it clutter-free!

Common rooms, in particular the kitchen, are even more problematic. Being considerate of your colleagues who will also use these rooms doesn’t take a lot of effort and is a common courtesy. 

3. Noise

Most offices these days are open plan so everyone can easily hear their neighbours. So it is important to be aware of the noise you are making and how it could affect them. Blaring heavy metal on your computer or having your phone ringtone on full volume will not win you any friends in the office. So, keep your phone on silent and wear some headphones.

4. Sickness

You aren’t doing any favours by coming in sick. While the team might be busy without you there they will manage. Taking time to look after yourself is better than soldiering on and potentially getting the whole team sick. It could make one busy day or two turn into a couple of flat out weeks if your teammates all get sick.

5. Smells

That fish vindaloo you had last night would definitely make a tasty lunch (we all know curry is better the next day). But if you share a small break room, the smell could make it uncomfortable for your coworkers.

This complaint doesn’t just relate to food smells either, excessive use of perfumes (or lack of), poorly laundered uniforms or the smell of cigarette smoke all annoy people in the office. These are all easy to avoid. Clean clothes, a stick of gum and measured use of the deodorant can help you avoid some awkward conversations.

Following these unspoken office rules will not just make the team run more smoothly but you and your colleagues will find the office a more enjoyable place to be!