It is not so easy to get through the working world without putting your foot in your mouth. We are all only human, and being human means making mistakes now and then. It is important that everyone makes an effort to avoid missteps and no-goes like the ten mentioned above – for the sake of others and themselves. Because you will need all your nerves for National Casino. After all, if you are constantly conspicuous for your rude behavior, you will not only ruin your reputation with colleagues and customers but also risk your career.

ATTENTION KILLER SMARTPHONE

Yes, we are all incredibly important and must always be reachable via cell phone. However, if you stare fixedly at your smartphone every time you receive a notification and thus give your counterpart the cold shoulder, you risk quickly being labeled as extremely rude. Clearly, the cell phone is off the air during business lunches, meetings, and discussions. “But what if the boss calls and wants something really important?”, some may now be asking. More and more smartphones have a “do not disturb” function that can be set to allow certain people to still be contacted. In general, it is better to keep your phone in your pocket and not demonstratively put it on the table.

ENTER WITHOUT KNOCKING

More and more companies are focusing on open cooperation and flat hierarchies. This includes, among other things, no longer or only rarely working behind closed doors. What many employees like to confuse: an open door does not mean being allowed to “fall into the house” with it. Office etiquette still calls for knocking and waiting for a brief reaction from colleagues. After all, it may well be that they are so engrossed in their work that they do not immediately notice the appearance of another person. Coming into the room without knocking is not only rude but can also provide some decent startle moments.

INTERRUPTIONS

A particularly tricky area of office etiquette is meetings. Here, there are a thousand things that are considered impolite and should therefore be avoided. The classic no-go is undoubtedly to interrupt a person who is speaking. This not only interrupts the meeting itself but also signals to the speaker that the “ins-word-faller” is putting himself above him. If you do not want to be seen as rude or disrespectful, make a note of your comment, or even write it down if necessary, and wait until the speaker is finished. After that, there is still plenty of time to voice objections, questions, or even constructive criticism.

USE COLLEAGUES AS A GRIEVANCE BOX

Do you also have this one colleague, who reports day in, day out from her private life and unloads all sorrow unasked in the office? Then you will understand why this behavior is also considered impolite. If you “abuse” your colleagues in the office as a grief box, you create a lot of distractions. Especially when individuals have to concentrate very hard on something in order not to make a mistake, the incessant chatter can become a burden and also a test of patience.

Those who like to discuss personal issues with colleagues should always do so one-on-one or in small groups, but never in an open office. Moreover, decency demands that you first ask whether private topics of conversation are okay. Of course, if a basis of trust and perhaps a friendship has been established, this question can be omitted.

CONTINUOUS MUSICAL EXPOSURE

Your colleagues spare you with private capers, but do not want to do without the favorite musician in the office on any account? It is hard to say which scenario is more annoying – and also more impolite. The fact is: the topic of music in the office is a delicate one. People with a particular taste in music should therefore use headphones – as approved by the boss. Otherwise, the rule is dignified radio sounds or silence.