Your colleagues are your first customers! (Part Two)

3 Behaviors to STOP NOW + 4 micro-behaviors you may not know they’re annoying!

Every company’s culture is different, even within the same industry. 

However, some behaviors are universally either bringing value or creating unnecessary tension in the workplace.

I did work in a luxury bubble, where relationships were well defined, rules were followed, behaviors were impeccable, expectations were clear… Even at this level, undesirable behaviors, or, I might say, their luxurious version, would surface.

So what happens outside this bubble, in smaller, less-regulated companies?

I will focus on actions that each individual has the power to change (micro-behaviors, blind-spot attitudes). 

As HR, I handled a high volume of culture-level, soul-crushing big behaviors like: bullying, unfair treatment, harassment, “burnout as a medal”. 

A topic for another discussion.

3 Behaviors to STOP NOW

Confusing Your Tasks with Your Mission and Actions with Results

Being so self-absorbed by your tasks that you forget the company mission is a classic tunnel-vision trap. Stop treating every email like it’s the moon landing or measuring your success in actions instead of results (“I sent 5 emails today!” vs “I spoke directly with... and we achieved this...!”)

Considering Other People’s Work Less Important

Just because someone’s project doesn’t impact your world directly or you don’t know the depths of their work doesn’t make it less important. 

Always Being in Crisis Mode

Constantly acting “Busy!” signals that you either don’t care or can’t prioritize. Stop acting like your calendar is the busiest one in the room. Constantly framing things as an emergency drains energy from your team and your colleagues will start tuning out.

4 micro-behaviors you may not know they’re annoying!

"Reply to all" When It’s Not Necessary

Not every email needs a group response. "Thanks" and "Noted" don't need to be shared with 15 people. 

Start Conversations with “Per My Last Email”

We know you sent an email. No need to passive-aggressively remind people. Try a more collaborative approach like, “Following up on this,...”.

Constantly Complain

Everyone has bad days, but nonstop complaining about work, the company, or even lunch options brings down the vibe of the entire office. Positivity is contagious, so is negativity.

Be Vague in Your Communication

Providing vague directions like “Just do your best!”, “You know what I mean!”, "Whenever you can!", without offering specifics, forces others to read minds. And that is stressful! Be clear or don’t be surprised when things don’t turn out as you wanted.

I am guilty of most of these behaviors, but someone was courageous enough to point it out to me and I was smart enough to listen and change.

Don’t tag anyone 😲! 

Just casually ♻ repost it. 

Who needs to see it, will see it!