How to Avoid Making These Five Costly Office Mistakes

You’re the new intern. Or the new hire. You’ve been waiting for this moment for years, and you’re finally in the office and ready to take on the world. But before you can even unpack your desk, you make your first mistake. And then another. And before you know it, you’ve made five costly mistakes that could cost you your career. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Just follow these simple tips, and you’ll be able to navigate the waters of office politics with ease.

So what are you waiting for? Start reading!

Talking Politics Too Much

You may think that discussing the latest political news will make you appear smart and in the know, but in reality, it just makes you look like a jerk. Conservative or liberal, when it comes to politics, people are very sensitive and it’s easy to step on toes.

So if you want to maintain healthy office relationships and avoid being dubbed the office jerk, try to keep your political commentary to a minimum. Unless, of course, you work in a place where everyone shares the same views and then, by all means, go ahead and start a heated discussion about the merits of Bernie Sanders.

Gossiping

We all know that one person in the office who just can’t help but gossip about everyone and everything. You know, the one who always has dirt on somebody and loves to share it even if it’s not their place to do so.

It’s human nature to want to gossip, especially when we’re bored or feeling left out. But gossiping at the office can have some serious consequences, like getting fired or making enemies.

So how can you avoid succumbing to the temptation of office gossip? Simply stay away from those people who love to talk trash, and try to focus on your work instead. It might be a challenge, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

Not Taking Breaks

You’re glued to your computer screen, ploughing through email after email. You’ve been at it for hours and you’re starving but you don’t want to take a break, because you’re so close to finishing this one project. Sound familiar?

If this sounds like you, then you’re making a costly mistake: not taking breaks. When we don’t take breaks, our productivity drops by up to 40%. Not only that, but we can also end up making more mistakes because we’re tired and stressed.

So how do you break the break-less cycle? It’s simple: take a five-minute break every hour, and a 10-minute break every two hours. Step away from your desk, get some fresh air and drink some water. You’ll be glad you did.

Working Through Lunch

You’re sitting at your desk, ready to power through the day but then you remember that it’s lunchtime. You could go out, but you’re so close to finishing that report.

Before you know it, the sun is setting and you’ve missed another day. Sound familiar?

If you’re guilty of working through lunch, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good habit. In fact, there are plenty of reasons why you should avoid working through lunch:

•  You’re less productive, When you work all day without taking a break, your productivity dips in the afternoon.
•  You’re more likely to make mistakes, Taking a break gives your brain time to reset, making you less likely to make mistakes later on.
•  You miss out on social interaction, Lunch is a great opportunity to catch up with your colleagues and build relationships.

Dressing Inappropriately

You might think that what you wear to work is no one’s business but your own, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The clothes you choose to put on each morning can say a lot about you and not in a good way.

If you’re dressing like you just rolled out of bed, or showing up to work in clothes that are too tight or too revealing, you’re sending the wrong message to your boss and your co-workers. You’re telling them that you don’t care about your job and that you’re not taking things seriously.

So before you head out the door tomorrow morning, take a few minutes to think about what you’re wearing. Are you dressed for success? Or are you dressed to fail?

I hope that I would have been able to throw some light on the major area in which we can work out, to avoid gaining unnecessary negative limelight and mistakes. So, go ahead and get around more freely and happily with your colleagues and embark on your career to grow more.