If you are a person who has just landed your first job or someone who has been working in a corporate environment for quite some time, you know how important workplace etiquettes are. For graduates who are starting their first job, the office environment may seem a little intimidating, however, they gain experience of what is correct and incorrect behavior in the workplace. How you present yourself and how you converse with people around you such as your manager, your colleagues, or your supervisors, everything reflects the type of person you are. This behavior has a direct effect on your career trajectory, therefore, it is important to keep a check on how you behave yourself in the workplace. Etiquette is a crucial factor for professional success, and the sooner you learn them (from the time of your internship at least), the faster you can accelerate in your career. This article outlines a few of the Do and don’ts in the workplace that you should follow to maintain a sense of professionalism at your workplace. 

Etiquettes of Workplace: The Do’s

Here are the top 10 actions and behaviors that must follow to establish a sense of professionalism in their behavior in the workplace. 

1. Arrive Early

Arriving early at your workplace shows that you are a person who respects punctuality and manages your time efficiently. Especially if you have just started working, consider coming earlier than your boss and plan your day so that you have a productive day at the office. Most of the cities are bustling with traffic, hence, when you leave at peak time, you would also be frustrated just like the rest of the crowd. By leaving earlier, you are avoiding the peak-time traffic, and also creating an image of yourself as the person who is punctual and respects everyone’s time. On the other hand, if you are a person who is always showing up late, it sends a different kind of image about you, not the one which you would want to build.

2. Network at your workplace

It is crucial to complete your tasks at your work, but it is also important to network and knows people who are working in your team and also outside your cubicle. Remember to have healthy and productive conversations which are mutually beneficial and not indulge in office gossip or office politics. One of the perks of networking at your workplace is that you meet people who share similar interests which helps gain advice about career advancements and also knowing the past experiences of the other person. As a beginner in a company, you must have connections at the place you work with, whether it is by grabbing lunch or coffee with your coworkers or attending company functions. This makes you a person who is easy to approach and may also help you gain more opportunities in the future. 

3. Dress appropriately 

Your attire should reflect the type of person you are, hence, dress in a manner that makes you look professional. Always consider which type of clothing would send a message that you take your work seriously. If your workplace does not have a formal dress code, it is better to avoid certain dresses such as crop tops, translucent t-shirts, or flip-flops which would make more sense in a picnic than at a workplace. 

4. Create a Proper personal email address

You may have thought that having a fancy email address would be a “cool” thing in high school or college, but in the corporate world, it isn’t a good idea. Many organizations may create their email address for the employees, but often, they would also require your email address to reach out to you. When you give your email address “coolboy123”, it won’t send the same impression as “first name. last name”. It is always better to create a proper email address that mentions your name does not have many adjectives. 

5. Be Enthusiastic

Always be that person who jumps at every opportunity that comes in their way. You may feel a little anxious when you are offered to work on tasks that you are looking at for the first time, but that is not a reason to decline that opportunity. You learn as you gain more experience, and fear of failure or what other people may think should not stop you from learning and gaining experience. You were chosen by your manager for the task, more likely because they believe that you have the skills and abilities to handle it. Always make sure that you are on the right track on your tasks and keep seeking advice about your tasks.

6. Be Hygienic

Nobody wants to sit next to a person who is saving soaps for a rainy day and does not maintain proper hygiene. Hence, be healthy and maintain follow all the hygiene etiquettes. You probably won’t get that promotion you deserve, if you are that person who nobody wants to sit next to.

7. Respect everyone’s time

In an office, everyone has their working schedules and deadlines to complete. You have to be respectful of everyone’s time and act accordingly. You should not just arrive at your teammate’s desk to ask about a doubt that would take up most of their time. Instead, email them and ask for their consent, or you can just ask “whether this is a good time to chat” instead of planning the time whenever you are free and assuming that they are free as well.

8. Be flexible

Being flexible means that you are willing to work later hours or early hours for the project that you were assigned. Flexibility may also include that you can perform tasks which you may not like, or work on a weekend or a holiday. Well, initially you have to understand how to get through this phase, but once you understand when flexibility is required, it will benefit you in the long run. 

9. Help out a coworker

If you think you can hit off your deadlines and also spare some time, you can always help out a coworker who has asked for your help. Remember where to draw the line, and always keep your assignments on a priority. If you feel that the coworker genuinely needs help with their work, and you can also complete your tasks, you should probably help them. Who knows maybe when you need help with your tasks, they may be willing to help you.

10. Be direct and communicate effectively

If you are a person who cannot confront anyone, it is better to learn this skill as it will save you from many issues in the long run. Tell the person what you do not like about their work and what changes you expect, instead of talking about them to anyone else. Be direct and honest about the work and give constructive criticism such that they can improve their work performance. This shows respect and prevents any misunderstanding to become a larger conflict. 

Etiquettes of Workplace: The Don’ts

Now that you know what you have to do in a workplace, some certain behaviors and actions should not be done in a workplace as it sends out a negative message about your professionalism and behavior. Here are the top 10 actions that you should avoid at a workplace.

1. Don’t “reply all” while responding to an email chain

You have to understand that whenever an email is sent to a group of people and they are expecting a reply from you, you do not have to reply to everyone present in the email chain. You have to decide whether the reply you are sending concerns any other team member as well. Often, it may also be embarrassing that the details that you want to send to a specific person, now would be read by everyone. You have to make sure that the emails you are sending are professional and are appropriate for the place, time, and people involved. 

2. Don’t Gossip about your coworker or your boss

Office gossip may be tempting because you have to actively make sure that you are not getting involved in them as they may backfire you in the long run. Unhealthy conversations which are just draining your energy and productivity should be avoided at the workplace. Gossiping at the workplace would make you a person who nobody can trust and make you seem that you aren’t a team player. This would not let you achieve your professional goals and also harm your career in the future if you become a topic of gossip. 

3. Don’t Be Passive Aggressive

Nobody wants to work with a person who does not know how to talk properly and uses bad language or bad-mouthing while communicating. Be thoughtful of the language you use in your workplace as it won’t be the same as you would talk with your friends. If you have a problem or issue with any work done by a coworker, or you want to talk to your boss about an appraisal, you should be assertive but not aggressive during communication. 

4. Don’t Bring your emotions to the office

You do not have to tell your desk neighbor about your sob story from last week. They may not even be interested in listening to you and you are wasting both their and your time which you could have used to complete a task. If you really cannot concentrate on your work due to any unforeseen circumstances, then you should take a sabbatical. Take time to deal with your problems and do not carry your emotional baggage to work. However, if something at work is bothering you, it is better to talk to the human resources department so that it does not interfere with your work. 

5. Don’t use multiple exclamations or emojis in your emails

This depends on the type of environment you are working in, but most of the places expect a formal email that does not contain multiple exclamations or emojis. If you are starting new, and even if your supervisors seem relaxed about the emails, it is always better to be professional and clearly concisely state your point. You do not have to be serious all the time, but as you understand how things work out in your workplace, you can draft emails accordingly. 

6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Asking questions about the project that you will work on, no matter how silly they may seem, will only help you have clarity in your mind about your project. It does not matter what others think when you ask questions, you should not be afraid to ask them. Otherwise, you may end up completing an entire project only to know that you have done all of it wrongly. You do not have to be overconfident about a task especially when you have no experience with it. 

7. Don’t miss deadlines without valid reasons

It is one thing to have a valid reason and miss out on a deadline a few times, but when you make it a habit of missing a deadline always, it would not go well with your superiors. You are considered as a person who does not know how to manage your time and does not value other people’s time and effort. Hence, always plan out your work priorities and deliver the work within a deadline. 

8. Don’t misuse employers resources

Using your employer’s resources for downloading movies or surfing the internet for things that are not related to work may result in losing your job. It is better safe than sorry, so review your company’s IT policies and ensure that your computer has nothing that you want to hide from someone. Also, if companies provide you with vehicles to run errands, use this only for that specific purpose and do not misuse any of the resources of the employers. It also may seem tempting to use a company’s phone to call relatives or friends, but it is better to avoid these practices in the workplace. 

9. Don’t always complain

Complaining about your work or employers or the workplace is not good quality. If you are a person who is always complaining about some issues in your workplace, it does not represent you in a good light. Appropriately communicate your issues and get them solved because nobody wants to be with a person who is always whining. Also, when you complain to everyone, it will soon spread like wildfire and everyone in the office would know about the person who you were complaining about. 

10. Don’t forget to behave at work socials

Work socials such as company outings are a great way to take a break from your regular job but you should not forget to behave yourself among your coworkers. If you are way too drunk to handle yourself and cannot remember what you said to a colleague, you would be the word of the day among everyone in the office. Remember that these are the people you have to work with every day, hence, limit your alcohol consumption and behave yourself during outings. 

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Conclusion

Workplace etiquettes are not something that is taught to a person, they are actions that one has to know to invoke professionalism and establish a sense of ethics in the person. Knowing what would qualify to be ethical in a workplace and what would be considered inappropriate is crucial for any individual who is starting in the corporate world. Understanding when to speak up and what to speak would help the person in the long run. And with all the advice on what to do and not to do in a work environment, always remember to smile and be an approachable person with whom anyone would love to strike up a conversation.