Since so many of your waking hours are spent at work, it is natural that the workplace can start to resemble one giant family. When everyone adheres to set standards of appropriate workplace behavior and respectable social etiquette, your workplace family will feel like a Norman Rockwell painting. However, when team members engage in toxic behaviors – well, you will have a one-way ticket for arrival at dysfunction junction, and no one wants that.

How people behave at work can have a major influence on the overall company culture, reputation, and business results – and a lasting impact on the personal brand of the individuals themselves. While most organizations work to set consistent standards of workplace behavior and outline those expectations in their employee manuals, the actual management and enforcement of those standards can be a little more complicated. This is due to many situations having blurred lines requiring case-by-case flexibility, which often can lead to confusion and inconsistency. The key for any employee is to focus their attention on their own behaviors versus the behavior of others.

Here are some simple ways that you can demonstrate you are an active participant in modeling appropriate workplace behavior.

Be Inclusive.

To be inclusive means to embrace diversity and to be respectful of the differences of others. At the end of the day we all share more commonalities than we do differences – so focusing on what you have in common with each of your team members is a great place to start. Workplaces that are filled with people holding different views, life experiences, and personalities are generally far more successful than those that do not. Individuals that have increased exposure to people that are different than them typically tend to be more well-rounded both professionally and personally.

It does not take much to demonstrate inclusivity in the workplace – simply be civil, respectful, open, and inviting. You know, just treat people how you would like to be treated – how easy is that?

Do Not Engage Gossip.

Sometimes what we share in common with our fellow employees is a frustration within the organization, an annoyance with another team member, or some scandalous water cooler chatter – and that can make it easy to validate negative feelings through commiserating or spreading gossip. Here is the thing though; any positive release you may experience when taking a jaunt down whisper alley is brief, but the negative impacts can be far-reaching. The truth is when you engage in gossip it says far more about your character than is does about the original issue that got under your skin, and chances are that whomever you are gossiping with is likely to be gossiping about you down the road too.

When faced with an annoyance, ask yourself – what does this have to do with me? Will it matter in 5 minutes, 5 weeks, or 5 years? By putting a reality check on your frustrations, you are allowing yourself to remove the emotional component and stay grounded.

Avoid Oversharing & Over-asking.

Chances are you have forged strong relationships at work, and that is a good thing – but in order to protect your personal life from becoming workplace fodder, and to avoid making people around you uncomfortable, it is important to avoid oversharing. Naturally, you may have a workplace confidante that you share more private details of your life with, but those types of conversations are best handled outside of the workplace. Oversharing can be completely unintended as well; sometimes you have to make a call to the doctors, pay a bill, or take a call from a family member and if at all possible, it is best that those moments be handled on break, in a private room, or outside.

Not only should you refrain from oversharing, it is also critically important that you don’t engage in asking or pushing for personal details from others you work with. Not only can asking deeply personal questions create an uncomfortable situation, it could also put both you and the company in legal jeopardy.

Refrain from Controversy.

Welcome to 2019. Controversy seems to be pretty abundant in today’s society – so telling you to refrain from it may seem like an impossible task, but it really isn’t. There is a time and a place for all kinds of conversations and open dialogue about controversial issues – the workplace is not it though. If you think about it, isn’t the idea of a controversy-free space a rather refreshing idea? Sharing opinions on hot-button subjects, political views, and subjects of morality should be avoided in the traditional workplace. There are times when it may not be avoided, for instance a new law may have a direct impact on your work – when faced with a situation like that, the key is to focus solely on discussing the law and what impact it has on the job or the company and nothing more.

There is likely going to be a time when someone brings up a local or national controversial subject that may strike a chord with you, or ask your opinion on it – never be afraid to politely say “I understand you are interested in that subject, but I choose not to engage in such discussions at work.” A graceful exit from the conversation will send a clear message that you are not interested in discussing the topic, while also not putting the person who brought it up on the defensive.

Don’t Bring Others Down.

It is said that “rising tides raise all ships” – are you a rising tide, or are you a falling one? The idea is that when people around you are successful, you will be more successful as well. This makes it even more fascinating that so many in the workplace have this ‘dog-eat-dog’ attitude, which can create a conflict filled, self-serving, and overall hostile work environment. Check your ego, hostility, aggression, misery, and judgmental tendencies at the door and just watch the increased performance of everyone around you. This isn’t bingo; if your co-worker celebrates a win – you should celebrate with them. If they are working hard and getting hung up on something – offer a helping hand. If you accomplished a goal, give a nod to those that helped you be successful. Don’t sabotage others for your own gain, because face it – you are all in it together and need to be able to rely on each other.

Toxic environment got you down? Manpower is here to help!

While every company can and should clearly outline behaviors that have zero tolerance at work such as harrassment, discrimination, hate speech, and violent behavior in their employee handbooks – many other behaviors, while more subtle, can also create a toxic and hostile environment.

	Be Inclusive. Being inclusive doesn’t mean that you have to be best buddies with everyone you work with, it simply means that you are civil, respectful, open, and inviting. Simply treat others how you would like to be treated, be welcoming, and avoid getting caught up in petty, members-only style cliques in the workplace. Check your ego and judgmental tendencies at the door. #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics
	Avoid Controversial Hot Button Topics There are enough places for you to engage in debates on hot button subjects like politics, religion, and discussions of morality – the workplace is not one of them. If you crave some idle chatter while you work, that’s fine – but topics that are bound to lead to controversy or heated debate should be saved for when you are not at work. If you think about it, isn’t the idea of a controversy-free space rather refreshing? #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics
	Gossiping Doesn’t Suit You You will get annoyed with people, you will get frustrated by something that happens at work, you may even overhear some information that wasn’t intended to be shared – it happens. No matter what, keep it to yourself. Any immediate relief you may get from gossiping is sure to be short-lived, but the ramifications of it could be far-reaching. And the truth is, gossiping says far more about you than it does about the subject.   #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics
	Respect Personal Boundaries No one wants their personal life to become workplace fodder. It is no fun for the individual and it could make it awkward for those you work with.  To avoid this uncomfortable situation it is important to refrain from oversharing intimate details of your life – both intentionally through talking openly with a co-worker, or unintentionally by talking a little loudly on a personal call. Not only should you not be oversharing details about your life, you should not be asking for overly personal details from others either. #TipsToThrive #WorldOfWork #ManpowerMaine #BackToBasics

 Want More Tips?

Click on the links below to access other tips we have shared throughout this series.

Each of us are unique individuals filled with strengths, abilities, weaknesses, and flaws, all stitched together like a quirky quilt. It is that uniqueness that makes us all special, that differentiates us from others, and keeps the world interesting. With that being said, when working with other humans there are times that those quirky traits and differences can create conflict and pose challenges, which is why having a healthy amount of self-awareness is critical to professional success.

Being self-aware does not mean that you can’t be your authentic self; it simply means that you take the time to be consciously aware of what makes you tick, triggers that you may have, and how you may be perceived by others – and being able to make adjustments when appropriate. Having this deeper insight about yourself with help propel you to greater success by strengthening your emotional intelligence and guiding your interactions with others to drive positive outcomes.

Acknowledging Your Deeper Motives

One of the hardest but most enlightening questions you can ask yourself is, “what is my motive?” We all have reasons and deeper motivations behind the things we do, and the first step to growth is taking the time to identify your motives. Motives, while we most often hear them in conjunction with crimes, aren’t negative to the core – they are very simply the “why” behind your personal choice, and that motivation could be different for everyone.

Every choice you make, whether it is applying for that team leader position or whether or not you friend your co-workers on social media, has a reason behind it. Acknowledging your motives (positive, negative, or fear-driven) is the first step of self-awareness and will help you make the best possible choices that are geared to your personal goals. One other key to professional success and personal happiness is refraining from jumping to conclusions and assigning motives to others. Again, motives are deeply personal, therefore no matter the observations you have made or interactions you have had – you do not have all the information needed to make such a judgement call.

Being Aware Of Different Communication Styles

How you communicate with others is directly tied to your own personality and preferences, so unless you only work with people that share your same style of communication, it is important that you recognize that many different styles, and change your approach depending on your audience. Also, make a concerted effort to recognize your individual style and how it can come across to others – and whether or not it helps or hinders results and relationships.

From how you speak, to the phrasing you choose, to the body language you display – your communication style has a significant impact on how your message is received. The more effort you put into adjusting or mirroring the style of the recipient of the message, the more apt you are to achieve the intended result. If you experience a communication breakdown, stop. Take a moment to breathe, step back, read your audience’s reaction, and adjust. It is a sign of strength to be able to take a moment to acknowledge the disconnect and re-engage with a different approach. You will find this strategy is effective in both in-person and digital communication.

Tempering Emotional Responses

Triggers. Ticks. Pet-Peeves. You have them, just like everyone else – and the guttural annoyance they create within you can sometimes manifest into a full-blown emotional response. Emotional responses, while natural, can create a professional challenge for you – so proactively taking steps to identify what sets you off, developing strategies to prevent any potential emotional outbursts that may display as anger, anxiety, crying, or inappropriate laughter, and recognizing how to address ongoing issues in a more formal way, will serve you well. What are situations that have a history of setting you off – last minute deadlines, getting interrupted, or excessive noise? When in a situation like that and you are nearing an emotional response, what warning signs is your body giving you (flushed cheeks, heart racing, nervousness, lip biting)?

By making note of the situations that trigger you and your body’s signals, you can strategize ways to preempt an emotional response – such as a quick walk outside, putting on headphones when it is noisy, or creating a to-do list to keep you focused on the things you can control. Of course, if you are experiencing an issue that goes beyond an annoyance and is resulting in a hostile or troubled working environment, take the time to make note of the facts and bring it to the attention of leadership in a professional way.

Contributing to a Comfortable Work Environment

Unless you are a sole proprietor, you are likely an inhabitant of a delicate worksite eco-system. And, as a member of a shared workspace, it is important to be a positive contributor to your work environment. Be mindful about the cleanliness of your work area, the noise you emit from your space, your personal work habits, the smells you bring into the space – and how these things can impact others, so you can do your part to make things comfortable for all.

Being able to set boundaries for shared work environments is key to building successful relationships, eliminating petty squabbles, and driving productivity for all. Before you walk away from the running microwave and fill the office with the unrelenting smell of burnt popcorn, leave that half-full cup o’ java at your desk over the weekend, or get the urge to angrily type that email reply while incessantly clicking your pen – pause and consider if you are contributing to a comfortable work environment.

Recognizing Your Level of Engagement

Are you checked-in or have you checked-out and just keep showing up every day? It is important, not only to your professional success but to your happiness as well, to ask yourself this question regularly. How engaged you are at work is a choice that you make. While there could be issues that lead to your being disengaged or checked-out, if you stay in that state of mind – you have made that choice. If you are checked-in, it doesn’t mean that you blindly agree to everything that happens in the organization – it means that you care enough to succeed anyway, and actively look for opportunities to positively impact results. Being checked-in doesn’t mean you don’t have a bad day, it means that you are committed enough to put a bad day behind you. If you are checked-in, you make a personal choice to perform to the best of your ability – and that is key to long-term success.

Now if you have found that you are simply checked-out, but still keep showing up anyway – you are not doing yourself any favors. Chances are your work days are dragging on like “The Long Night” episode of Game of Thrones – you were there, it felt really dark, things happened, but you aren’t quite sure what those things were. If that is where you are professionally – it is time to make a change.

If you are ready to make a change, Manpower is here! Contact us to explore your options.