Part of the assimilation into a professional workplace is learning how to cooperate with different types of people, including their habits. To get an idea of what habits professionals deem as a workplace “pet peeve,” LinkedIn conducted a survey of 17,000 professionals across the globe (see infographic below) asking which pet peeves were the worst to handle. Consider the top five global pet peeves below:
- Not taking ownership for your actions
- Constantly complaining
- Dirty common areas
- Starting meetings late or having meetings go on longer than planned
- Not responding to emails
Whether you or your coworkers are guilty of these or other pet peeves, there is a way to combat them. Consider these tips from LinkedIn’s Nicole Williams when confronting a possible workplace etiquette violation:
Don’t Let It Go Unnoticed. Simply put, address the pet peeve to your coworker in a calm manner and with a solid example of the behavior that should be corrected. Letting it build will not only make you more agitated, but it will prolong finding a solution.
Be Professional. Do not focus your energy on the person committing the pet peeve, but rather, focus on the behavior itself and how it affects your performance. Don’t resort to petty remarks.
Ask About Your Behavior. Workplace etiquette begins with you. Being self-aware of how others perceive your actions may be the best course of action in order to have a productive and friendly environment. Ask a trusted coworker for any input about your behavior if you are not sure.
Are there any office pet peeves that did not make the list? How do you address bad habits in the workplace?
