Today I would like to share regarding working environment. I hope this will help all the other person out there who are working or currently studying… I hope this will give you more insight of working in a corporate world.
Everyone want to be taken seriously at work. Everyone want
their opinion to be heard and analysed and valued. Being a young adult at work,
we are now moving toward the phase where transition of Generation Y is slowly
taking over managerial post. The conflict of having generation X and Y in
office can be quite challenging.
I like to share some
personal experience on what you should not do J
Watch your mouth
I once overheard a coworker say, “I have a widdle question.”
Now that phrase is the first thing I think of every time I see her. She is a
smart woman and a capable worker, but the baby talk is forever branded in my
mind. So, unless you actually work with babies, using infantile language will
take away all of your authority.
Baby talk isn’t the only language culprit. Pay attention to
the way you speak and figure out whether you’re making any verbal faux pas. For
example, using the word “like” incessantly can dilute your message and make you
seem less intelligent. (Like, this sentence is, like, not as easy to read
because, like, I keep stopping the flow of the words by adding words that are
not, like, you know, necessary.) Breaking your bad speaking habits will make it
much easier to establish yourself as a professional.
Never play dumb
Based on personal experience, Dumbing yourself down is a
terrible move, both professionally and personally. Sometimes we play dumb in an
attempt to make those around us feel smarter, but lowering your intelligence is
not the way to boost someone’s self-esteem. You are not doing the other person
or yourself any favors by pretending you’re less intelligent than you really
are.
A former boss once told me that playing dumb is just part of
the corporate world. Don’t buy into that. Companies aren’t looking for
empty-headed employees. And, if they are, do you really want to work there? You
don’t want to be a know-it-all or the person who always gets the last word, but
having ideas and opinions is a good thing.
Built a professional Cubicle / Room Image
Your professional image is built on many factors, from your
work ethic and interpersonal skills to your wardrobe and cubicle walls. Since
you will spend so many hours in your workspace, adding personal touches to your
cubicle can improve your mood. However, there is a big difference between a few
homey touches and making yourself totally at home.
Tasteful photos of your family are appropriate. Pictures of
a shirtless boyfriend is NOT. I used to have lots of cute magnets on the wall
of my cubi, but now as I move to a new company. I re-brand myself. I have a
sleek only 2 personal items (picture with solid frame & calendar). It does
help J
And décor is not the only factor that can make you look
unprofessional. Throwing your belongings all over the place, letting your stuff
overtake a coworker’s desk or leaving dirty dishes out are behaviors that will
make your peers lose respect for you. No one wants to have a meeting at a desk
covered in biscuits crumbs.
Stop using Phoney Text language
Professional correspondence should not read like a text
message. Whether you are contacting a coworker or client, you should use proper
English. Abbreviations and other slang can make you look silly and alienate
readers who are unfamiliar with the phrase. Your work emails represent not only
you, but your company, so don’t pepper them with “lol”s or “smh”s. Besides, the
reader doesn’t need to know you are laughing or shaking your head. Who cares?
Eliminating slang and text message vernacular extends to
conversations and presentations as well. Your proposal is not going to carry
the same weight if you start the pitch with, “Aight, peeps, here’s whassup.”
Even if you are saying it ironically, you will seem immature. You don’t have to
sound pretentious; just be work appropriate.
Credibility is so important when it comes to moving up the
ladder. Don’t let thoughtless habits hold you back. Remember, your workplace
shenanigans can give all young professionals a bad reputation.
Let’s break the negative stereotypes. Be yourself, but be
professional.
p/s:Do you have your own tips that you would like to share with all of us?
