Top Workplace Pet Peeves to Avoid to Supercharge Your Career
In any workplace, it’s probably safe to assume that most people are striving for success, whether that’s moving up the corporate ladder or hitting their team goals. That said, it’s not just about how good you are at your job – your behavior around the office can also have a huge impact on how others view you and your work. Even the smallest habits, which might seem inconsequential, can hurt your reputation, hold you back from promotions, or create awkward tension with coworkers. That’s why it’s really important to be aware of common workplace pet peeves so you can avoid them and opt for a better course of action. In this article, we share our top workplace pet peeves to avoid. By understanding them – and knowing how to avoid them – you can build a stronger personal brand and create a more positive work environment for everyone around you. Let’s get into it!
1. Interrupting Others in Meetings
Interrupting others while they are speaking can come off as disrespectful and dismissive. Although it may not be intentional, it can send a message that you prioritize your thoughts over others’ contributions. It can also create an uncomfortable meeting environment where people feel reluctant to speak up or share their ideas. No one wants that!
What not to do: In a team meeting, while your coworker is presenting their project update, you interrupt them midway to give feedback on their approach or correct an assumption they made. This not only cuts them off but can also derail the conversation and diminish their input.
Alternative approach to consider: Practice active listening. Try really hard to allow people to finish their complete thoughts before chiming in and offering your input. A simple trick is to force yourself to take active notes during the meeting and wait for natural pauses in the conversation to insert your thoughts or questions. This way, you not only have a record of what was said, but you also keep yourself busy by taking notes while the other person is speaking, which in turns ensures you don’t unintentionally interrupt them. It’s a win-win for everyone!
2. Chronic Lateness
Being late, especially to meetings, implicity shows a lack of respect for other people’s time. When you are late, people may have to repeat themselves to catch you up and if you have decision making power, you may hold people up from moving on because they need your sign off. It also hurts your personal brand. Showing up late to a Zoom or an in-person sync could signal that you don’t know how to manage your time and can paint you as someone who often disrupts the flow of group discussions. You definitely don’t want that reputation!
What not to do: You show up 10 minutes late to a recurring team meeting, causing the group to repeat the discussion points you missed or delay the start of the meeting altogether.
Alternative approach to consider: Set calendar alerts or alarms to give yourself buffer time before meetings. Arriving five minutes early to demonstrate respect for your coworkers and allow yourself to settle in and get organized before the discussion begins.
3. Taking Credit for Someone Else’s Work
This is a big one. Taking credit for work you didn’t do completely undermines trust among colleagues and paints you in a really negative light. It also has the power to damage team morale and can make coworkers feel unappreciated and even resentful. Even if you’re a manager presenting an update on behalf of your team (which happens often), giving credit where it’s due is key. It ensures your team gets the recognition they deserve, shows them you’ve got their back, and paints you as a thoughtful and considerate leader.
What not to do: In a presentation to senior management, you share the results of a team project and imply that you were solely responsible for the success, without acknowledging your colleagues or team by name and their contributions.
Alternative approach to consider: Be generous with giving credit. Highlight the contributions of everyone involved (no matter the size of their impact) and emphasize how teamwork led to success. Sharing the spotlight with others builds stronger relationships and shows key leadership qualities that other senior leaders will certainly be looking for.
4. Excessive Personal Phone Use
Constantly checking your phone for personal texts, emails, or social media in the workplace can be distracting and unprofessional. Even in a remote setting, it’s usually pretty obvious when you’re distracted and focused on your phone. People can usually pick up on it, even through the Zoom screen and it gives the impression that you’re not fully engaged or committed to your work. Not a good look!
What not to do: During work hours, you’re frequently on your phone, texting friends, or scrolling through social media while your team is collaborating on a time-sensitive project.
Alternative approach to consider: Try to limit personal phone use to breaks or lunchtime only. If you’re in meetings or working on group tasks, keep your phone out of sight to signal full engagement and remove the temptation to pick it up and check the alert you just got. If an urgent personal matter comes up, it’s perfectly fine to step away and take the call. Just make sure you’re fully present when it counts the most and you over-communicate with those around you.
5. Leaving a Mess in Shared Spaces
This is obviously only relevant to employees who go into the office, but it’s a big one! Leaving a mess in communal areas like the kitchen, conference rooms, or even things like shared cabinets or shelves makes you look unorganized and unprofessional. It also creates additional work for your colleagues who have to clean up after you and shows a lack of consideration for others who need to use those spaces.
What not to do: You leave dirty dishes in the office kitchen sink, expecting someone else to clean up after you, or you leave supplies scattered on the conference table after a meeting.
Alternative approach to consider: Take responsibility for cleaning up after yourself. Put dishes in the dishwasher, organize materials and supplies, and leave shared spaces as clean as you found them. These small acts demonstrate respect for your coworkers and really go a long way.
6. Not Responding to Emails or Messages in a Timely Manner
Ignoring or delaying responses to emails or internal messages can cause bottlenecks in workflow and frustrate colleagues who rely on your input. It gives the impression that you are either overwhelmed or indifferent to everyone else’s needs.
What not to do: A teammate sends you a request for approval on an important document, and you don’t reply for several days, causing project delays and unnecessary stress for everyone involved.
Alternative approach to consider: Even if you’re swamped, make sure to acknowledge receipt of the message and provide a realistic timeframe for when you can respond. Also practice prioritizing urgent emails and try to respond within 24-48 hours for the other non-critical stuff.
7. Talking Loudly on the Phone in Open Office Spaces
This is another pet peeve that only applies to people that go into the office. Loud conversations, whether work-related or personal, can be really disruptive in open office space. Your peers may find it hard to concentrate, and it can create tension if they need a quiet space to focus.
What not to do: You take a personal call at your desk, speaking loudly enough that everyone around you on the floor can hear your conversation, distracting them from their work that they need to get done.
Alternative approach to consider: When possible, take calls in private rooms or step outside to less populated areas. If you can’t step out, try to be mindful of your volume and consider using headphones or texting to avoid distracting others around you.
8. Hovering Over Colleagues’ Desks
For our in-office folks, hovering over someone’s desk while they work can feel really invasive and interrupt their focus. It has the power to create an uncomfortable work environment, especially if the colleague feels pressured to respond to you immediately because you are hovering over them 🙂
What not to do: You walk over to a colleague’s desk and stand there waiting for them to finish typing an email, making them feel rushed or distracted.
Alternative approach to consider: Send a message or schedule a quick meeting instead. If it’s urgent, approach politely and ask if they have a minute to talk before you start talking. Respect their workspace and time.
9. Oversharing Personal Issues in the Office
While building personal relationships with coworkers is important, oversharing personal issues at work can make others uncomfortable. It can also blur professional boundaries and shift the focus away from work-related matters, which is where it should be.
What not to do: During a team meeting, you dive into a long story about your personal life and weekend plans, taking up time that should be focused on project updates or work discussions.
Alternative approach to consider: Try to keep personal conversations surface level, light, and appropriate for the workplace. Save the in-depth personal stories for outside of work hours with close friends or at happy hour outside of structured meetings.
10. Neglecting to Say Thank You
This is probably the most important pet peeve we will share today! Failing to acknowledge a coworker’s help or contributions, no matter how small that act, can make people feel really undervalued. It can erode goodwill with the person, discourage them to collaborate with or help you in the future, and create a less supportive work environment.
What not to do: After a colleague assists you with a last-minute task, you take the work and move on without saying “thank you” or showing appreciation for their time.
Alternative approach to consider: Take the time to acknowledge and appreciate your colleague’s efforts, even if it was for a really small thing. A simple “thank you” or follow-up email expressing gratitude doesn’t take that much time but goes a long way in fostering a positive and collaborative work culture.
Conclusion
These common workplace pet peeves may seem minor, but over time, they can really negatively impact your reputation, relationships, and ultimately career trajectory. Whether it’s being perpetually late, neglecting to acknowledge others, or creating unnecessary distractions, small actions can speak volumes about you. The good news is that each of these behaviors has a simple, better alternative. By avoiding these pet peeves we share in this article and adopting better habits, you will be one step closer to building a strong personal brand, contributing to a positive workplace environment, and paving the way for future career growth. Good luck!
If you enjoyed this article, make sure to check out our similar article on 9 Simple Ways to Improve Your Work Performance Immediately!
