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With great professional power comes great professional responsibility. The ability to workwell at your job is amust, but being able to continually conduct yourself in a professional manner is equallycritical. One embarrassing miscue could send you packing in a hurry. Theever-expanding rulebook of professional etiquette can make it hard to keep up, but thefollowing business blunders are universally condemned. Here's how to spot them and whatyou can do to stay in the safe zone.Behavior etiquette mistakes
Profanity, lack of personal space, unnecessary cellular chats, and poor eating habits topour list of behavioral blunders. Bad behavior isn't good anywhere, but it's worse at workwhere people witness it on a regular basis. Don't swear to make a point.It'll take away your credibility and make you look stupid. In addition to profanity,standing too close to a coworker or being physical with them is also unwise. Your work environment isn't aplace for intimacy. An office favors speech over intimacy, but thatshouldn't include your cell phone. A sudden call at a meeting or lunch can be irritating,especially if you're talking loudly. Volume and rudeness are also bad when you're eating.Being loud and talking with your mouth full takes attention away from the conversation andputs any business talk on shaky ground. Behavior etiquettetips: Choose humor over swearing, as it will keep the attention on you and you'll bewell-liked for your efforts. When you're humoring or even just interacting with someone,give them a respectable distance of 15 inches, smile often and acknowledge them as a signof respect. Cell phone talk can be lessened through caller ID screening and voicemail, as most calls are unnecessary. Anticipate potential callers and call them first --before work. Don't answer in a meeting, and speak quietly if you really must take a call.Don't make your phone visible on a desk or a lunch table. When you do eat with others,chew wisely and while they are talking instead of when you are talking. By maximizing good behavior, your blunders will be minimized.Conversation etiquette mistakes
The way you talk to others goes a long way towards establishing yourcredibility or losing it in an instant. Where conversation is concerned, the worst ofthe worst blunders are taboo topics, office gossip, interrupting, and shouting. Politics and religion aren't fair game for discussion. You are at work, not withfriends. Sex is absolutely off limits, as it induces awkwardness and possible harassmentcharges. You might feel targeted if a boss or client is angry with you,but you'll make it worse by interrupting and shouting tactless remarks. Shouting andinterrupting aren't suitable with coworkers, either.Yelling across the office to start a conversation is distracting and embarrassing, whileinterrupting another conversation to "join in" shows impatience and lack of respect. It isn't just about how you act or talk... Continue Reading
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