When it comes to maintaining professionalism at a job, even the most skilled employee can unintentionally give off a bad vibe. This isn’t always about major mistakes—it’s the little things that leave lasting impressions. Thankfully, though, we’ve curated the following list of bad work habits that make you look unprofessional, so as long as you avoid these, you should be able to maintain a solid reputation in your workspace.
Dressing Inappropriately for the Office
Even if your employer has a flexible and casual dress code, what you wear can set your tone before you even speak. This isn’t always about dressing too casually, though–even overdressing can send the wrong message. At the end of the day, thoughtful dressing doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank, so make the effort to show that you care about your appearance and the professional environment.
Being Chronically Late
If you constantly turn up late to work, you’re inevitably going to cause your colleagues and boss to question your reliability. Punctuality is important not only for the start of the day but also for meetings and even work lunches. Ultimately, chronic lateness disrupts the flow of teamwork and leaves colleagues feeling undervalued, so try to be on time, and you’ll look far more professional.
Ignoring Basic Email Etiquette
We can all agree that emails can be a pain to work through, but even so, you should still pay attention to basic email etiquette. If your emails are filled with typos, sent without proper greetings, or are full of emojis, all of this can contribute to your work seeming rushed, careless, or unprofessional. Sure, you don’t have to type like a robot, but you should still pay attention to tone, grammar, and formatting.
Oversharing Personal Issues
Everyone faces challenges, but sharing too much personal information at work can blur boundaries, potentially making colleagues feel uncomfortable or distracted from their tasks. So, make sure that you keep your workplace conversations professional and positive while still being open to occasional personal exchanges, ensuring a balanced and respectful atmosphere.
Avoiding Accountability
It should go without saying that passing the blame or dodging responsibility when something goes wrong at work will slowly chip away at your credibility. Nobody is perfect, and admitting that you made a mistake actually shows maturity, integrity, and a willingness to work towards a solution.
Talking Over Others in Meetings
Never cut off your colleagues or boss during meetings, as this is bound to become frustrating. Unsurprisingly, it can give others the impression that you don’t value their input, which isn’t a pleasant feeling. Simply let others finish their points, actively listen, and contribute to conversations thoughtfully when the time is right.
Neglecting Your Workspace
While you might claim to work better amidst the chaos, this isn’t fair to your colleagues. A cluttered or unclean workspace can be distracting to anyone who has to be around it, and moreover, it can give off an impression that you’re disorganised. Ultimately, none of this is going to help you look professional, so do your best to keep your workspace in check.
Complaining Constantly
We all want to vent occasionally, especially in the UK, but persistent complaining won’t achieve anything but to create a negative atmosphere. Eventually, colleagues may start to associate you with problems rather than solutions. You don’t have to fake being constantly positive but try to strike a balance by addressing concerns constructively.
Using Your Phone Excessively
Constant phone use, whether for texts, calls, or scrolling social media, can signal disengagement, especially when you’re supposed to be working. Even if you’re productive outside of this time, colleagues could still feel you’re not fully present in the workforce. Therefore, we’d recommend keeping your phone use to a minimum during work hours to reinforce your commitment to the team and tasks at hand.
Skipping Deadlines Without Notice
It’s a fact of life that missing a deadline from time to time happens, but failing to communicate delays in a timely manner will make such a situation worse. If they’re not informed ahead of time, your lateness could leave your team scrambling, leaving them feeling like they can’t trust you. Just be honest and proactive about challenges and renegotiate timelines when necessary, and this will look a lot more professional than if you simply kept silent.
Gossiping About Colleagues
We’re not in secondary school anymore, so participating in office gossip isn’t going to look good for your reputation. Even if you’re not the one starting rumours, engaging in them makes you seem less trustworthy because who knows who else you could be talking about behind their back? At the end of the day, building relationships is based on mutual respect and positivity, not thriving off of others’ drama.
Poor Hygiene or Grooming
You might not see it as relevant to your job, but neglecting basic hygiene or grooming standards can be really distracting to your colleagues, perhaps even affecting their perception of your professionalism. So, pay attention to small details like keeping your clothes clean, freshening your breath, and brushing your hair, all of which will demonstrate that you respect yourself and those around you.
Being Overly Defensive
It’s never a good look to react defensively to feedback, as it makes you seem unwilling to improve. Instead of seeing feedback as criticism, view it as an opportunity to grow–your colleagues will no doubt respect this.
Neglecting Teamwork
Another workplace habit that makes you look unprofessional is focusing solely on your tasks rather than those of the team. Avoiding collaboration with others will no doubt make you appear self-centred, so practise being more willing to lend a hand, share ideas, or participate in team efforts, and this will show that you value the group’s success over just your own.
Forgetting to Say Thank You
Here in the UK, manners are invaluable, so your colleagues won’t appreciate it if you fail to acknowledge their contributions or show gratitude when they help you. A simple “thank you” goes a long way in making colleagues feel valued. Even just a tea run is deserving of your p’s and q’s.
Ignoring Professional Boundaries
Finally, be very careful when it comes to overstepping professional boundaries at work, such as by being overly familiar with colleagues or treating the workplace as a social hub. You might think that this builds high spirits around the office, but for those left out or uncomfortable with such familiarity, it can be uncomfortable. As a general rule, stick to maintaining a level of professionalism, even in casual settings, and this will help everyone feel more respected and valued.
