The workplace is generally regarded as a hub that allows for productivity to take precedence. A company has specific mandates and objectives to complete, and every team member should work together to reach those goals. However, this is not always the case.
Aggressive and toxic behaviours can sometimes manifest within the workplace, generating a genuinely horrendous work environment. Some conduct, on the other hand, can be passive or, at the very least, very unprofessional.
Here are some of the most common unprofessional behavior examples inside the office:
Behavior #1: Laziness
Laziness is one of the most common examples of unprofessional behaviour in the workplace. All of us are bound to get sluggish and unproductive at some point in our lives. Whether it’s due to not wanting to get started on many tasks or simply feeling mentally exhausted, laziness is inevitable. However, this becomes a problem when a worker does not fulfill their professional obligations.
This can especially become difficult when it is a team-related effort, where everyone has their own weight to pull. One lazy link in the overall chain severely hampers productivity and can create strife within the workplace. Everyone needs to give their all each workday or, at the very least, let others know that they are trying their best.
Behavior #2: Gossip
Gossiping can quickly turn into something truly unprofessional and immoral. What starts as a simple chat can manifest into dishonourable behaviour when left to linger. Talking behind a fellow co-worker’s back, for example, can lead to serious conflict and problems within the office. If you choose to confront the behaviour enacted by this team member, more issues may arise.
This unprofessional conduct prevents a desired team cohesiveness from being reached. Everyone should know where they stand with their co-workers so that this behaviour can quickly be dispelled. Talk to your team members about their conduct when it is discovered to properly hash things out at an early stage.
Behavior #3: Being Defensive
Criticism is something we should all take with a positive mindset. Constructive criticism can be used in a way that amplifies self-development and professional ambition. However, sometimes those you work with may take criticism as something inherently personal. In this mold, they quickly become defensive.
Having too much of a thin skin can translate to something unprofessional within the work environment. However, most of the time, this may be something that can be worked upon if given time. Letting this conduct fester can isolate you and the team from working optimally with the co-worker in question.
Behavior #4: Sharing Every Personal Detail
We all have personal lives. Some may be more exciting than others, while others may be relatively simple. For those who have many things going on in their life, it’s important to remember that not every activity has to be shared. Telling everyone in the workplace about your wild social life can come across as annoying to most over a long stretch of time.
Some simple small talk every day is fine, but it is important to remember that a workplace is a place for work. Everyone there has a role to play in order to reach specific professional quotas. Leave the longwinded social talk for lunch or for drinks after everyone has clocked out!
Behavior #5: Sexual Harassment
This is where unprofessional behaviour becomes fundamentally predatory. Even the slightest of physical gestures or provocative remarks towards a co-worker can be considered as sexual harassment. This must be brought to the attention of higher management when enacted. If left to fester, sexual harassment can quickly transform into abuse.
This type of behaviour can also go beyond just mere comments or remarks. A co-worker making sexual jokes or repeatedly asking for sexual favors all constitute the harassment component of this conduct. Suppose you are experiencing harassment of a sexual nature. In that case, you should take all legal steps that you can to protect yourself from further mistreatment. Contact a Levitt employment lawyer to assist with your representation.
Behavior #6: Being Untrustworthy
When you are in the workplace, you generally are given many responsibilities and goals to finish on your part. When your boss asks you to complete a work-related task, you should ensure that it is finished in a timely manner. This develops rapport, which is considered to be valuable for building trustworthy relationships.
Not following through on even the simplest of assignments can result in that rapport being broken. Similar to being lazy, being untrustworthy is extremely unprofessional and is behavior that should be promptly changed. If not, it will definitely be the groundwork for becoming let go eventually!
Everyone is human at the end of the day. We are not predisposed to conducting perfect behaviour every single day. However, acting professional and trying our best, especially in the workplace, is what makes us extraordinary. Remember, the workplace is a location for productivity, not for shooting the breeze!
