Modern life is very casual…maybe too casual. Both employees and employers agree that workplace manners could use some work. One study has shown that rudeness in the workplace inhibits employee performance, and an investigation published in the Academy of Management Journal showed that incivility decreases the ability to solve problems creatively and the desire to help. Obviously, these are tremendous problems in the workplace, but they can also pose challenges for you as you navigate your career path. Embracing good office etiquette can pay off for you and make your company a better place to work. Here are some tips for improving your office etiquette.
Be civil.
If you have ever read a Miss Manners column, you will notice that she encourages civility in every situation. The best demeanor for a workplace involves a calm, thoughtful approach to challenges. It also involves giving your co-workers the benefit of the doubt. This may mean that you do not retaliate when someone makes an offensive remark. For co-workers who ignore you, you may need to calmly discuss the issue with them first before involving management. There are, unfortunately, also some individuals who feel that yelling is appropriate. In situations like these, you may need to wait until they calm down before you can move on to discussing what the real issues are. (However, if someone is constantly yelling at you or being offensive, you may need to seek other employment opportunities elsewhere.)
Appearance matters.
Your workplace may seem informal, but you should only use that as part of the guidelines for how you appear at work. Wearing neat, clean, appropriate clothing not only shows respect for your workplace and colleagues, but it also speaks volumes about how you feel about yourself. If you are still not sure what to wear, Business Insider highlighted 5 levels of business attire for your every need. Another thought: dressing for the job you want (not the job you have) can impact your career success. While there will always be the occasional Mark Zuckerberg who wears a hoodie every day to the office, the highest echelons of success are mostly peopled with those who tend dress well.
Be polite.
There are many ways to be polite. Perhaps one of the easiest ways is to use proper English and avoid slang. “Please” and “thank you” should get a regular workout in your daily conversations, too. Waiting for others to finish speaking (and being a good listener) is another way to show good manners. Avoid using your cell phone while someone is speaking to you, and avoid interrupting a co-worker who is on the phone. The breakroom is a potential hotspot for social faux pas, so be aware of how you behave there, as well. Loud conversations or music have no place at work, since they can distract others from getting their jobs done.
The workplace has undergone a significant change over the last 50 years, but that does not mean that manners have gone out of style. If anything, they are more important than ever before. If you are not quite sure what to do in a certain situation, it never hurts to follow the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done to you.