Some days, you just know you’ll be teaching etiquette to a TOUGH crowd! Here’s what I saw as I passed by a desk on my way to give a class on “How to Behave at Work.”
When you work in an office–with other people–remember that you are sharing space. “Sharing” as communal; the opposite of private. Obviously, the office manager was trying to convey the “shared space” rule with her sign (above). Here’s what I see as problematic with this situation:
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If picking up your food wrappers and throwing away trash is a big deal for you, work somewhere else that allows slovenly behavior.
No matter what type of office you work in–it’s NOT your home*. Casual might be the dress code, but the condition of your work space tells the passer-by EVERYTHING they need to know about your attitude at work. An open bag of Doritos and a coke on your desk and the makings of a Disney movie spread all over does not equate to professional or hard-working professional. Yes, be comfortable but don’t be a slob.
One last thought: take pride in your work space and in your work.Clean up the messes you make. Clean the microwave after use. Remove your old food from the office fridge. Be a leader and help set the tone for the rest of the office.
*unless you work from home. Then, slob out. As long as no one ever comes to your home to do business, that is!Share this: