THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF THE OFFICE

There are certain rules in the workplace. You won’t find them written down anywhere in the employee manual. They aren’t really even official rules. But break them and you will soon know about it. It’s just like when you were in the playground as a kid. Your knowledge and understanding of the rules usually grows with experience but it is worth knowing them before you go into any office.

The first and most important rule is that nobody likes a bully. Even if you are the boss and technically everyone has to do what you say. Treat people with respect and you will get it back. Force people to do things your way and you’re likely to get yourself a reputation very quickly. Being a good boss or colleague is all about being professional and being courteous. Follow this golden rule and you won’t go far wrong.

The second rule is that you should always dress like you mean business. No matter what the dress code in your office, dress like you are the most important and hardest working person there. Appearances are everything in business. You should always make an impression.

Master the technology. People who are good with technology are always vital in the office. You’d be amazed how little most people know about the machines they use for work everyday. If you can fix it, you will soon find yourself becoming very popular.

Respect people’s privacy. It is never a good idea to gossip or speculate. If someone wants you to know something, they will tell you. If they don’t, they won’t. It really is that simple. Break this rule and you’ll soon find that no one wants to speak to you at all. This is followed naturally by the rule that you should always be polite and friendly. Even if you don’t want to make personal conversations, saying hello and asking people about their day is always nice. Beware of becoming the office grump.

Keep your desk clean, especially if you are sharing or hot desking. If someone else has to share your space, it is only good form to be neat and tidy. In a serviced office there will usually be cleaners but that is no excuse to behave like a teenager and leave your rubbish lying around.

Ultimately, the bottom line in all of this is to behave in a professional and classy way. Everything you do at work should be consistent and positive. Be disciplined about your work your dress and the way you behave at the office and you won’t ever slip up and break one of the all important rules. You might not think it, but that is how you will get noticed in the end. Good impressions always take longer to make than bad ones. It’s really worth remembering.