Updated June 8, 2023
Introduction To Negative Work Habits
Each employee in every position ingrains particular negative work habits that are not easy to remove but impede their career. Some employees neglect important things in the office, like important projects, increased salaries, or promotions, due to their lackadaisical approach or conniving nature. You are also not realizing the amount of loss you have to incur through your behavior which is against the corporate culture and work habits.
Below are the Negative Work Habits Examples that can ruin your career:
#1- Negative Work Habits – You Are Not A Self Promoter
You are great at your work and a valuable asset to your company, but if you do not adorn the trait of self-marketing to impress, no one will know about you. Many workers and even creative people continue to produce great works, but the public hardly recognizes them; no one knows their value or how they can be great contributors. They are eligible for recognition. Whether the work is minor or major or just kudos from clients, reveal the same to your manager or boss. This will increase your credibility before your boss.
By the end of the day, give yourself a few minutes to note down all your work. This includes both major and minor tasks. With the list, you can measure your level of performance and skills. You will know your capabilities and weaknesses when you go through the list. You can also compare your performance with your colleagues or seniors to know and understand where you are standing. This would also help you make self-judgment, and you will have a record for your performance evaluation report whenever it comes out.
- In self-promotions, you have to articulate your expertise, which includes adding points to discuss something or for, posting comments, or generating entertaining or informative promotional spots.
- Display your capabilities, skills, and attitude that show you can be a valuable asset to the organization.
- Be sensitive and receptive to the people with whom you are conversing. You can write a pitch or deliver it every time you meet somebody and always be ready to adapt yourself for a change.
- Talk to people about yourself, your direct audience, and who needs or wants to hear about you.
- If you are sensitive to other people’s needs, do not just keep on bragging about yourself. Ensure you are not taking more time by continuously talking about yourself. Many people do this, and that can kill their careers.
#2- Negative Work Habits – You often make rash decisions
Many employees have a habit of making rash decisions as they do not think about the consequences, which can lead to their failed performances and even a loss to the company, and then they feel guilty. Making a rash decision means you are listening to your heart and not your head, which can either give you success which you owe to your luck or failure. But you will never get a setback if you listen to your brain and avoid negative work habits. So it is best to think of all the aspects of landing yourself in any occupation. Remember, do not say yes when you want to say no, and do not say no when you think everything will be good for you. Say yes to the calculated and profitable moves that would take you to success.
“Think and Then Act”
#3- Negative Work Habits – Adopting A Negative Outlook
Adopting a negative outlook is one of the negative work habits examples, and showing aggressiveness in projects creates an unpleasant environment and a distance between professional relationships. Some employees have a habit of complaining. They will keep whining and making excuses on one pretext or the other.
If any part of the project goes wrong somewhere down the line, they will complain that the network was unstable or that a subordinate did not carry out the task in an orderly way. These complaints or mutterings create an unpleasant situation and unnecessary distractions and can distance you from your colleagues and seniors/subordinates. The same is true for bad humor. Light humor is good as it is a stress buster and releases you from all kinds of tensions or stress, but the humor in the form of abusing other colleagues or making bad remarks creates an environment of distrust, and you would be in a bad light. Even people who are working under you will lose all respect for you. If the complaints continue, then the time will come when your boss will also get frustrated and could fire you.
So instead of complaining, discuss the problems with your manager/boss and find alternative solutions. If there is an issue in a project, find the cause of the problem and try to solve it instead of grudging or complaining.
#4- Negative Work Habits – Not Ready for A Change
Many employees follow the same work pattern, same procedure, and similar work habits examples; they are not ready for a change. The already adopted style habituates them that they are not prepared to try and think something out of the box. Moving on the same track always creates the impression that you are a follower, not a good leader, and you are not moving with the world. If you do not change, you might see yourself in the same position even after ten years from where you started. Change yourself, even if it requires learning new skills. Try to convince your boss with facts and examples of how your idea can benefit the company. State your opinion, even if it goes contrary to the boss’s ideas or moves, but do so very articulately and as per the needs of the company.
#5- Negative Work Habits – You Are Always Lying
You often lie to your boss, maybe for a reason as small as taking sanction for a leave, which employees often do. Telling lies can save you some time, but regular lies can land you in trouble. If caught, it will destroy your credibility, and that’s something that you will never get back. Reputation and trustworthiness are bigger than money. Even if you stop lying, no one will ever trust you again.
#6 – Negative Work Habits – Always Disorganized
Sometimes you don’t do what you say; if you do, that’s least important or nothing of value. You are not organized and often dilly-dally things, losing the important paper at the nick of time or coming late to the meetings or the office. And you often show negligence in work. Whether the job is small or big, showing negligence destroys your credence. If you are negligent or disorganized, it will amount to a lack of output, and productivity and workflow will be affected. And naturally, the company can’t afford the loss, so your boss must warn or throw you out of a job. Your home will also become messy if you do not keep your belongings properly. A disorganized person is never successful, whether at home or in an office, while an organized person will always shine.
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Being organized does not take much time, and you can work efficiently, smartly, and quickly in the office or at home.
#7 – Negative Work Habits – Involving in Gossip and Brickbatting
Gossiping is common in offices; a few gossiping releases stress. If gossiping becomes too much, it spoils the office environment and causes disregard for the person you are gossiping about. Too much of it also creates distractions at work and causes distrust, jealousy, workplace politics, and envy. Suppose you are saying something foul about your senior or colleague, and that word spreads. No doubt, a person’s reputation will tarnish, but if you have complained about it to the manager or HR, you might also fall in trouble or even lose your job. So avoid gossiping, and talk well about others. If you behave nicely with your colleagues, you will get the same reaction from the others too. Naturally, you will earn trust, reputation, and many friends.
#8 – Negative Work Habits – You Cannot Work As A Team
Suppose you cannot adapt as per the team’s standards and also do not hold along with your colleagues. Moreover, you distanced yourself from others, constantly argued with them, did not respect team members and their ideas, and continued to play tantrums causing disruptions or distractions. The whole team suffers in any of the above cases; loss is more if all depend on each other. In a group, you must follow the rules and abide by them. It is very important to help and give credit to team members and support them, complete the work as scheduled, and help others. Working with a team is challenging, but the kind of exposure or experience it gives is valuable and beneficial.
Conclusion
We all have our weaknesses and negativity, but if you work in a company, you must draw a line between your weaker and positive points. Never show the weaker side of your personality, as others might take advantage of your weakness. Start working on the more vulnerable issues and improve and cherish your positive side. So be good, and do good with a positive self-image.
Recommended Articles
This has been a guide to negative work habits of each employee in whatever position they work that is not easy to remove but impede their career. These are the following articles related to negative work habits.
