Little Foxes, they say, Spoil
the Vine; That is why you shouldn’t allow those things you consider minor dent
colleagues’ perception of you. The list of office misdemeanor is endless but I have
outlined a few of them. If you find yourself doing the wrong thing, adjust and
be the colleague everybody looks forward to working with.
Here are a few of the Basic
office Etiquette:
Do respect your coworker’s space. Announce your coming
with a knock or even over the intercom if available, colleagues’ space are
theirs and it doesn’t matter if it’s as small as a cubicles or open desks.
Respect that space and refrain from leaning on someone else’s desk.
Don’t default ‘reply all’. Clogging people’s mailbox with
mails they have nothing to do with or are not interested in could be annoying.
Keep ‘reply all’s’ to a minimum and only when the whole group is interested in
your answer. When sending a group email where replies only need to be directed
to you, consider BCC. Instead, be a good email-er and preface subject lines with
FYI: or Response needed: (avoid using “URGENT” unless if it really is for the
most important situations; you can or give a phone call if it is that urgent)
Do make work-friends. Some offices everyone is close and
others are strictly business-only. Do what works for you, but knowing a few
details about co-workers’ lives makes it a lot easier to make small talk in the
elevator or while waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. Remember it takes
just a few seconds for silence to be awkward; and you don’t want to be the
reason for such silence. It’s boring being around the extremely introverted
colleagues. Make some friends, be involved in that chat (always maintain a
limit though)
Don’t kth*xba!i. Try to be as professional with your
colleagues as with your clients; they deserve the same respect as clients. Keep
the language in emails and other communication grammatically correct (and
brief). This helps prevent confusion and keeps you looking professional.
Additionally, turn off the caps lock (typing
in caps implies you’re shouting or upset). Beyond an overly-long acronym, it
has no place in the workplace.
Do ask before you put someone on speakerphone. If anyone
else will be listening to the call, introduce them as well. Likewise if you’d
like to record a call, ask first.
Don’t forget that sound- and smells- travel. In an open
office, chomping and chewing or reheated lunches can easily grate coworkers’
nerves. Your garlic pasta is delicious, it’s best to not use the communal
microwave to heat it up. Also be considerate with your body sprays; what’s good
for you may not be good for another.
Remember there are no hard
and fast rules in office etiquette as they vary widely from place to place but
these tips apply from the most relaxed start-up to a downtown corner office.
What office etiquette do you think keeps everyone
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