Saying certain thing at work can give others the wrong idea about you and your motives, so be aware of how your words come across to others. Here are five career killers.
"It's all your fault>""It's all my fault"
This seems like it could be helpful, but Taylor warns that it's not. "Falling on your sword brings you into a place of shame," she says. Being the martyr and taking everything on yourself can set you up for future blame, as well as plant the impression that you are incompetent. Accept the responsibility for things only if that responsibility is truly yours. "You can apologize for a situation that someone is in," Taylor says, adding that doing so can be effective in moving the focus away from who's at fault and onto finding solutions.
"It's not fair"
Whether this is true or not, this is one of the most unhelpful things you can say at work. No matter how you say it, it's going to come across as whining. And the answer you're likely to get can be something along the lines of "You're right -- so what?" Instead, find more concrete, fact-based objections to something you want to change, rather than relying on emotional appeal.
"That's not my job"
In today's work environment, employees are often asked to go above and beyond as a matter of routine. "That's not my job" can make you look stubborn, lazy and generally uninterested in the company's success. Instead, identify the problem you have with the task at hand -- is it something you truly don't have time for? Is it something that someone else would do better? In addition, Taylor recommends seeing things from the other person's perspective. "If we can be curious about expectations, we can better manage relationships we have with people," she says. There are instances where a jurisdictional or work agreement may make something truly not your job, but if this is not the case, find a better way to turn down extra projects.
"Don't tell so-and-so, but..."
Office politics can be devastating. While you may be involved in closed-door meetings with colleagues or managers, don't say anything in private at work that you wouldn't want said in public at work. No matter how you think you can manage secrets, words often have a way of getting around. Be prudent about what you share and whom you share it with. Watching your words is an important part of your workday life. Think twice before you say something, and try to imagine how your words sound to others.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Dining with the Gods… Hands off the Big Chair
8 minutes -
Joy FM’s Party in the Park: A day of family fun awaits in Aburi
9 minutes -
Mahama urged to stand firm against lobbyists in appointments
18 minutes -
SEED Academy Ghana to hold elite Basketball Camp and Leadership Summit on December 26
24 minutes -
Kofi Asare criticises delays in Free SHS and WASSCE funding
28 minutes -
KNUST Medical School targets expansion of teaching facilities to accommodate more students
29 minutes -
WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup: Black Maidens duo pick up top awards in inaugral edition
41 minutes -
International Day for PWDs: Telecel Ghana Foundation trains deaf students in robotics
41 minutes -
Kasia Coal releases holiday anthem ‘Feliz Navidad’
1 hour -
American Airlines grounds all US flights on busy Christmas Eve
1 hour -
UNICEF urges Ghana to prioritise TVET investment to address youth unemployment
1 hour -
Businessman to plead guilty in NY Mayor Adams’ corruption case
1 hour -
Black Sherif stamps authority with aura as high as his shoulder pads at ‘Zaama Disco’ concert
1 hour -
Let go AFCON qualification woes and back Black Stars in World Cup qualifiers – Joseph Paintsil
1 hour -
The US town where it’s the law to own a gun
2 hours