Little quirks and habits you develop at work can majorly impact on how colleagues and bosses see you.
From doubting your competence to undermining your actual skills and achievements, these seemingly minor behaviours create lasting impressions that can overshadow your good work and limit your career opportunities. If you’re guilty of any of these things, it’s time to nip them in the bud so you can build a better reputation at your job.
1. Constantly apologising for normal work stuff
Starting emails with “sorry to bother you” or apologising for asking legitimate questions makes you seem insecure and unsure of your place. Excessive apologising suggests you don’t think your work contributions are valuable enough to warrant other people’s time, which is just silly.
Reserve apologies for actual mistakes rather than normal workplace interactions. Replace “sorry to ask” with “thanks for your help” to sound more confident about your legitimate needs and requests.
2. Speaking in tentative language during meetings
Using phrases like “I might be wrong, but…” or “This is probably stupid, but…” before sharing ideas undermines your credibility before you’ve even made your point. After all, self-deprecating language tends to make people question your expertise.
State your ideas directly and let them stand on their merit. If you’re genuinely uncertain about something, ask a specific question rather than apologising for having thoughts.
3. Being chronically late to meetings and deadlines
Consistent lateness sends the message that you don’t respect other people’s time or take commitments seriously. Even when your work quality is good, never being on time creates the impression that you’re disorganised and unreliable.
Build buffer time into your schedule and set personal deadlines that are earlier than the actual ones. Being consistently early or on time demonstrates respect and professionalism that people notice.
4. Oversharing personal information in professional settings
Discussing your relationship drama, health issues, or financial problems with colleagues makes you seem unprofessional and lacking in boundaries. Oversharing isn’t just inappropriate, it also creates uncomfortable situations and makes people question your judgement.
Keep personal sharing appropriate to your relationship level with colleagues. Save intimate details for close friends outside work, and focus on building professional rapport through work-related conversations.
5. Checking your phone constantly during conversations
Looking at your phone when people are talking suggests that whatever’s on your screen is more important than the person in front of you. This behaviour makes you seem rude and easily distracted, which you clearly are.
Put your phone face-down or away entirely during meetings and one-on-one conversations. Give people your full attention to show respect and ensure you don’t miss important information.
6. Making the same mistakes repeatedly
Everyone makes mistakes, obviously, but repeating the same mistakes suggests you’re not learning from feedback or paying attention to details. It’s a pattern that makes you seem careless or unable to improve your performance.
Keep track of your mistakes and the corrections you receive to pick out patterns so that you can better address them. Create systems or checklists to prevent repeating errors that you’ve already been made aware of.
7. Complaining about work tasks publicly
Venting about assignments, policies, or colleagues in front of other people makes you look negative and unprofessional. Everyone has a moan every now and then, but constant complaining creates the impression that you don’t take your role seriously or support the team’s goals.
Address legitimate concerns directly with the appropriate people rather than broadcasting complaints. If you need to vent, do it with trusted friends outside your workplace.
8. Never asking questions when you don’t understand
Pretending to understand instructions or concepts when you’re actually confused leads to mistakes and missed opportunities for learning. That false confidence often backfires when your confusion becomes obvious through your work output.
Ask clarifying questions in the moment rather than hoping you’ll figure things out later. Most people appreciate questions that help ensure work is done correctly the first time.
9. Taking credit for what was clearly a team effort
Failing to acknowledge other people’s contributions to shared projects makes you seem self-centred and dishonest. That behaviour damages relationships and makes colleagues reluctant to work with you on future projects. Everyone brings something to the table, not just you.
Actively highlight your colleagues’ contributions when discussing shared successes. Generous credit-sharing actually makes you look like a strong collaborator and leader, rather than diminishing your own achievements.
10. Sending poorly written emails and messages
Messages full of typos, unclear language, or missing information make you appear careless and unprofessional. Poor communication skills can overshadow your technical abilities and create extra work for recipients.
Proofread important messages before sending and use clear, concise language that gets your point across efficiently. Solid written communication is a professional skill that’s noticed and valued.
11. Avoiding responsibility when things go wrong
Deflecting blame or making excuses when you’ve made mistakes makes you seem immature and untrustworthy. This defensive behaviour prevents you from learning and improving your performance.
Own your mistakes quickly and focus on solutions rather than explanations. Taking responsibility professionally actually builds credibility and shows that you can handle difficult situations maturely.
12. Gossiping about colleagues and company decisions
Participating in office gossip or criticising management decisions with coworkers makes you seem unprofessional and untrustworthy. This behaviour creates the impression that you might talk about other people behind their backs, too.
Stay out of gossip conversations and redirect negative discussions toward constructive topics. Building a reputation for discretion and positivity makes you someone people trust and want to work with.
