On Jane’s List, it’s as important for us to tell you what you should do to grow professionally as it is what not to do! Unless you really enjoy job hunting, in today’s tough economy and shrinking job market you absolutely, 100 percent cannot afford to do the next five things in the office.
- Cry: If you’re a Sex and the City fan, you’ll probably remember Charlotte saying that she cried once at her job and from then on in, her co-workers were always scared of her becoming emotional again. Well, this is where fiction meets fact. I would encourage you to see for yourself, but that would involve you crying at work, which you should avoid doing at all costs. If you do feel stressed or emotional, remove yourself from the situation at once and give yourself enough time to calm down.
- Claim sexual harassment: This is not a popular one. Of course you absolutely have to draw the line if you’re made to feel uncomfortable, but I’m being honest with you when I tell you there’s a consequence. What I’m referring to is being the whistle blower in the office who has a problem with everything. Everything is an injustice, everything is another case for HR. Pick and choose your battles carefully because if you’re viewed as the woman in the office who can’t take a joke, you will become the office joke.
- Make a failed power play: This one speaks for itself. In the world of office politics, there’s always room to get ahead. Just be careful you’re not doing it at someone’s expense.
- Throw someone under the bus: Accountability is perhaps the most important virtue you can have in your professional life. It won’t feel good at the time, but be accountable for your mistakes and protect the good folks who work hard for you. It will build good office karma.
- BCC: Just like I tell my clients, “Don’t say anything to a reporter that you wouldn’t want to read on the front page of the paper the next morning,” “Don’t email anything in a blind copy that you wouldn’t want to explain to someone face to face.” Because chances are that the one time it’s really important you’re not caught subversively blind copying someone, you will be.
