When you are at work, your training and expertise are important, but what some people forget is that you are also judged on how well you handle yourself in the workplace. Now more than ever people need to work on their social skills if they want to achieve success. Business skills are key and if you want to ”make it” you need to know which bad habits can hold you back. Here are just a few mistakes that happen in the business world on a daily basis that you can avoid:
- Don’t be late- Always show up on time or 5 minutes early. Being on time shows respect for others’ time and avoids having to start out with an apology for being late. Being late will always make a negative impression on people you work with.
- Respect the business card- When someone gives you a business card don’t just throw it in your purse or pocket, treat cards given to you with respect and show interest to the other person when they hand it to you.
- Don’t walk in blind- If you are meeting with a client or boss, do your research beforehand. You may not be able to get all of the information you need prior to the meeting but show that you made an effort to look into it before the meeting.
- Get off your phones- Turn your smartphones on silent and tuck it away. Nothing is more annoying than trying to converse with someone who has a phone as a constant distraction, including a phone that is vibrating throughout the meeting. If you need to keep your phone out, explain to the other person that you are expecting a call from someone that requires immediate attention and apologize for the interruption.
- Taking notes on your phone- If you are going to take notes on your smart device, PLEASE let the other person know in advance that you will be taking notes on it, and aren’t trying to be rude. Other people don’t always realize you are taking notes, and they assume you are busy reading texts or emails.
- Proper follow up- Even if you don’t have a proposal or answer ready, make sure you email the person and thank them for taking the time to meet with you and let them know that a proposal or answer will follow soon. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to request proposals from people, after a meeting. Nothing says “you are not important” to others more than having to follow up with someone who was supposed to get back to you.