When you are joining a firm, you may be more bothered about the terms like office decorum, workplace etiquette, workplace ethics, office rules, and co-workers.
Whether you are a recently hired person or just in need a refresher course on interoffice relationships, here are a few practical reminders on maintaining professional decorum and respect in a shared workplace. Try to keep these points in your mind always in your personal as well as professional life.
Volume Control: Speak in a moderate voice and keep a respectable voice modulation with your colleagues and Boss. If you have to make phone calls in an open setting, make sure to control your own volume and respect your neighbors. Or if your office has private rooms, utilize them.
Happy Returns: It is quite normal to borrow stationery items from your neighbor employees. Do not take other people’s items even if it is a stapler, a pair of scissors, or a pen without permission. What’s worse is when you forget to return the item borrowed. Remember what your parents taught you as a child – never borrow something without asking permission and if you do, be sure and return it as soon as possible.
Be Punctual: Punctuality refers to the quality of ‘respect’. If you have a meeting with a co-worker or team, show respect by being on time. The same goes for meeting deadlines on a collaborative project.
Credits: No one likes someone who takes all the credit- especially for a team project. Remember that the happiest work environments are collaborative situations where people share ideas and concepts. Even if you are the leader on a project, don’t forget to recognize the efforts of your co-workers.
Groom with a view: We’ve all heard horror stories about co-workers who clip their nails and even floss their teeth in a cubicle or open office. But please show some professional and personal decorum by arriving at your office pre-groomed and ready for the work.