Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Tip Sheet #8

Last week I continued our discussion of workplace behaviors and outlined some clear guidelines to follow regarding communication skills. It is always important to remember that successfully navigating your work environment will depend on how well you manage all of your relationships.  For those in education, never forget it is all about relationships, especially the relationships you make with your students. Years ago, when interviewing a prospective teacher, I thought it was all about content knowledge.  My thinking later evolved to focus more on the candidate’s pedagogical skills. Without hesitation, I now believe being a successful teacher is all about relationships.  If you are not able to make that special connection with your students, your superior content knowledge or impressive pedagogical skill will not matter.  The student will turn you off before you ever get started.

Working with others

Likewise, teaching is a collaborative endeavor.  Failure to connect with your colleagues will also prove disastrous. Today, let us take a look at how we can annoy others at work (and of course how others may annoy you).

The picture that I chose to accompany today’s post says it all.  I am sure you have had the unfortunate experience of sitting next to someone on the plan who will not give you any peace and quiet.  Just think if that same person shared your space at work.

 How do we offend and annoy each other at work?  Let’s take a look.

• Impolite.
• Loud and obnoxious.
• Constantly late.
• Not fixing the copy machine or replacing supplies.
• Reading information on someone’s desk or computer screen.
• Listening in to others on the telephone.
• Doing personal business or making personal phone calls at work.
• Generally nosey.
• Never takes responsibility for one’s actions- a blamer.
• Always pushing your way to the front-a credit grabber.
• Poor personal habits such as:
  • General disorganization
  • Poor eating habits
  • Bad breath, body odor
  • Too much perfume or after shave, cologne.
• Talking about others-gossiping.
• Failure to learn or not making the effort to learn new things on the job.
• Asking the same questions over and over again after you have been given appropriate answers and direction.
• Not listening or paying attention.

I am sure you can add to this list, it is certainly not all inclusive.  Personally, my number one irritant is, HAVING A NEGATIVE, BAD ATTITUDE ON THE JOB.

As a result of today’s article, I ask each person to take a moment to reflect and see if you possess any of the aforementioned habits or traits.  And if you do, what are you going to do about them?