Workplace etiquette: How to make yourself likeable and pleasant to work with

Here’s one listing you might want to know.  Who doesnt want to be likeable eh?

• Don’t be a whiner who is always complaining and miserable with his/ her lot in life.
• Never use words like ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t', nor phrases like ‘I’m busy’ and ‘that’s not my job’.
• Do not criticise anyone — that’s not your job. And if you get criticised, be professional about it. Do not take it personally.
• Keep personal conversations down to a minimum and keep out of earshot of others.
• It is shabby to look through people’s computers, emails or letters — and don’t ever make the mistake of sneaking into people’s personal property like handbags or wallets. Be responsible for your own property and valuables. If you lose your expensive items, everybody else becomes a suspect and nobody likes being one!
• Never borrow anything from someone’s desk without permission and when you do always return it in good condition.
• Do not misuse office property. Keep your workplace orderly. Do not infringe on other people’s space.
• Be friendly with colleagues of the opposite sex but know where to draw the line. Don’t get involved needlessly in any situation which could lead to embarrassment and could potentially damage not only your reputation, but that of the organisation as well.
• Do not get indulge in office gossip or discuss delicate topics (religion, politics, money, sex etc).
• Do not fidget or make unnecessary sounds which can be distracting to your co-workers.
• Maintain stringent standards of personal hygiene. Do clean up after yourself when you use the restrooms so the next person using it does not have to scrunch up his/ her nose!
• Do not convert your desktop into a place of worship. Since you might be working with people who follow different faiths, it might be better to display a vase of flowers instead.
• Use office privileges like sick leave etc thoughtfully so that you don’t burden your co-workers with extra work.

 acknowledgement goes to:: http://in.rediff.com/getahead/2008/aug/25work.htm