Work habits you need to break if you want to climb the ladder

Even though you think you're a good worker, your boss might think differently. „You might have bad habits in the workplace that your boss notices more than what you're doing right. Those behaviors could be killing your chance to get a raise. Even worse, they might cost you your job,“ writes Business Insider. 

Picture: Sergey Nivens / fotolia

Kathi Elster, an executive coach and author of "Working With You Is Killing Me" made a list of bad work habits you need to break if you want to climb the career ladder.

Always late

Your late arrival can impact your colleagues. It's rude and unprofessional.

"Business is deadline-driven. People who can't respect that don't do well", said Elster.

If you often miss deadlines because of time management lapses, you can fix the problem by getting started on projects as soon as they are assigned.

Poor work-life balance

Do you frequently take long lunches, call friends during the work day, leave early to go to your kids' activities or regularly come in hungover from late nights of partying? "If it's clear your personal life is more important than your work life, that gets noticed," said Elster. "You're not going to get promoted. You're certainly not going to get a raise." So stop the long lunches and start negociating to achieve the work-life balance you need. For example, you might need to negotiate a different work schedule so you can leave on time to pick up your kids from school.

Cellphone and social networks

According to a Pew Research Center survey, 34 per cent of people say they use social media while at work for a mental break from the work day. Additionally, 27 per cent say they connect with friends and family while at work via one of the digital platforms. A 2016 CareerBuilder survey found that 19 per cent of employers believe workers are productive less than five hours a day instead of eight. Employees' cellphones are the cause of that drop in productivity, according to 55 per cent of the survey respondents.

Before posting anything, ask yourself whether you'd be embarrassed if your boss saw it, Elster recommends. If so, refrain from sharing it. And never complain about work or your chiefs on social media.

Communication skills

It's hard to take someone seriously who spells the word ‘srsly.' Writing in shorthand could make you appear less educated or even disrespectful. ditch the text lingo if you want to be seen as a professional worthy of a raise.

You can't admit mistakes

Not admitting your mistakes is one of the biggest career mistakes you can make. "This is the No. 1 behavior that annoys managers the most," said Michael D. DeVine, CEO of DeVine Consulting, which helps companies with talent selection. When you're defensive, it suggests you're not willing to listen to others, fix problems or take responsibility for mistakes. If you're a manager, it sends a bad message to the people you supervise.

Personal hygene

Maybe you're in the habit of going to the gym before work. Afterwards, you head into the office without showering, where your colleagues are confronted with your body odor all day. Well, it reeks of unprofessionalism. So if you want to move up, dress up for the role you want.

Bad attitude

If you're always in a bad mood, your employer will notice. Bringing a toxic attitude into the office can ultimately hurt your chances of succeeding. Companies want people who improve the morale of others in the office. Happy, motivated employees lead to better work and a stronger company. So leave the moodyness at home. So try to be likable - when it comes down to it, employers want to hire people they like.

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Barbara Bierach