Bad habits that drive co-workers crazy

You may not realize it, but there's a good chance you're doing at least one thing that drives your co-workers nuts. Brooke Howell, 7 Bad habits that are driving your co-workers crazy, Monster.com

A printed version of the article quoted above showed up in the office lunchroom last week. I don't think it was directed at me personally, but it was a good reminder that one's personal habits may put others off. The are the habits that Howell listed: [Comments in brackets are mine.]

1. Making an unreasonable amount of noise. [I personally need to remember to shut my office door or use headphones more often.]
2. Causing chaos on conference-calls. [My problem is not causing trouble, but staying focused. How do you contribute without sounding like you are interrupting?]
3. Being a source of strong smells. [Both good and bad. This includes food as well as person.]
4. Engaging in excessive chit-chat.
5. Doing things that gross people out. [Are any of us ever aware of these habits and if we were would we continue to do them?]
6. Touching too much or in unwanted ways. [Personally, I miss a friendly hand on the shoulder or arm, but in today's world...]
7. Invading others' personal space. [Remember the size of personal space is culturally driven.]

I would add a few to this list..

• Not meeting deadlines.
• Whining.
• Eating at one's desk.

My sense is that more of us working in cube farms has led to a higher level of awareness about how our (usually unconscious) actions impact others. I am lucky to work with a very good staff and in a building that seems 100% comprised of professionals. Lucky me, since addressing bad habits that impact others is not a favorite part of my being a supervisor.

And the bad habits that you, dear readers, find most annoying?

Comments

[smark]

So is eating at your desk a problem if you have your own office, rather than a cube? Afraid I do that one often, but I'm not doing it three feet from someone else. And smelly stuff I usually eat in the breakroom. And limits on how smelly I bring in -- as much as I love kimchee, it's not going to the office with me.

I'm afraid I can't contribute much on annoyances, as I work in a great office with great people. And we are blessed to not be too close on top of one another. A little distance helps.

[Jim Randolph]

I work with a pretty great staff. I only have minor gripes. Lateness, yes, but there are a couple of teachers who seem to have no clue what a schedule in a building this size is even FOR. (And no, I'm not saying anything I haven't laughed about with them in person.) I'm a VERY flexible librarian and if someone brings in a class unannounced and it's not messing up anyone else, I'm fine with it. But when they consistently put their classes down for times, miss those scheduled times( which I've prepared for), then bring them in randomly (when I'm less prepared) it gets old.

I also just had one that gets to me. Someone took photos of something with a digital camera and doesn't know how to download them (yes, really). That's not the problem. The problem is not letting me teach them how and instead begging me to do it for them. Since they are not a classroom teacher I'm doing it but that's just kind of silly. I much prefer to teach people and have them be self-sufficient in the future than doing these little things for them.

I'm sure there's more but those are the ones that popped into my head as I read this.

But again, I'm pretty lucky. And I work with the staff as much as I can to smooth out as many little things like this that I can to make things go better for everyone in the long run.

[Carrie]

I too work with awesome, considerate people who keep their noises, odors and hands to themselves. My pet peeve is people leaving a mess in common workspaces. Please just budget the time to put away the three pieces of card stock leftover in the manual feed of the copier and recycle the scraps of paper next to the die-cutter. People can be hesitant to "throw out someone else's stuff," so clutter ends up sitting there a long time.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Susan,

Yes, when one can close an office door to block noise, sights and smells from co-workers, it is easier to be less annoying. Luckily for me!

Thanks for the comment,

Doug

Hi Ninja,

As a punctual person myself, I feel "disrespected" when people are tardy or no-shows. I can sympathize!

Doug

Hi Carrie,

Your comment brings to mind another pet-peeve - people who leave their food and containers in the common fridge forever!

Dad

[Clix]

It always startles me when, instead of knocking, someone simply tries to open the bathroom door! Fortunately I'm very careful to lock it every time. ;D

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Clix,

I guess I am one of those folks who just rattle the knob instead of knocking. Sorry about that.

Doug​