As women we often times need to work even harder to gain the respect and appreciation we deserve in the workplace. I recently did a radio blog on Working Knowledge with Azalia (AJ) Owen, MBA, MISM with AOWEE Professional Training and Development as the second part of "Owning It: Womenhood in the Workplace Part 2" which talked about things that women do in the workplace that can be holding them back.
One of the hot topic questions discussed was "What are some common behaviors that cause women problems with professionalism in the workplace". Below are some of those faux pas women make in their career and some ways to avoid them:
1. Engaging in Gossip at Work
As women, we tend to verbally process what happens to us, especially if what happened to us is bothersome. I urge you to think about the consequences of venting in the workplace and at what cost? Of course, things upset us at work - that's normal, but what is the best way to handle this situation so it does not escalate or have a negative impact on your reputation?
Solution: Schedule a time to talk about your issue with the offending party (even if it is your boss). They are the ONLY one who can prevent the offense from happening again. If you have tried this several times and they are not interested in changing their behavior, you are only responsible for your own behavior. Confide in a close family member or friend that is NOT associated with your company/workplace. Be careful you don't do this too much about the same issue- people don't want to hear complainers or negative nellys that won't put in the effort to make a change.
2. Cluttered Work Space
We are all busy and it can be easy to get overwhelmed and behind these days. We are asked to do more with less; however, having a cluttered work space speaks volumes about us, whether it is true or not. The thinking is scattered office - scatter brain! This sends the message that you are behind, disorganized, drowning......you lose credibility.
Solution: Commit to spending the last 15 minutes of each work day cleaning up your space. You may not be done with the task or project, but you are done for the day. It will feel amazing to walk into your work space the next day with a clear office and a clear mind!
3. Not Being On Time
When you are on time you are telling the person that you respect them, the event, etc. Being late for work, a business meeting, work function, emailing or calling people back, can send a message that you just don't care or you care more about yourself. Not responding to emails or phone calls within a reasonable amount of time (the next business day) you send the message you are overwhelmed (can't handle it), disorganized, too busy for them, etc.
Solution: I once asked a great friend to share with me how she always managed to make it everywhere on time. Her strategy was to assume the event, function, etc. started 15 minutes before it actually did. This gave her time to get there and either, use the restroom, get coffee, network, take a few moments to relax (visualize), read, or catch up on work while she was waiting.
There are some other common behaviors that can cause women problems at work. If you are interested in learning more behaviors to avoid, wearable but wrong clothing choices for the workplace, and why being eye-candy may get you the promotion but at what cost, you can listen to this 30-minute radio segment at Working Knowledge Blog Radio .
I would love to hear from you - what are some common behaviors you see women engaging in that have a negative impact on their professionalism?
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