We often talk about how you can avoid distractions at work. Have you considered the possibility that you may be the source of some of these distractions?
None of these distractions are big on their own but when added up, they rob people of their productive time and keep them from achieving their goals. You may fall into a trap where you are distracting your colleagues from this important work.
The cause may not be malicious. You may be bored, have doubts about your leadership ability, or feel the need for more interaction with people. Your distractions may also be tied to some bad habits.
While you don’t want your workplace to be a sweatshop, you want to make sure that you are perceived as someone who adds value to the work day and not someone who holds people back. Consider these three tips to make sure you’re not distracting your colleagues:
The Need To Be Right All the Time
Do you find yourself arguing a lot over little details that don’t matter much in the big picture? How does this affect the mood of the office?
Resist the urge to say, “I told you so,” when you’re right but it’s not a big issue. When it is one, then understand that people will remember your position. Don’t gloat. You’ll look like a much wiser person when you hold your tongue.
Bending the Rules
You may be in a position where you don’t have to follow all of the rules. This will upset your colleagues if they see you getting away with something that gets them in trouble.
It can also weaken your credibility if, for instance, you tell people to arrive on time and are always late to work.
You may have every right to carry on as you like but do you want people spending their time complaining about you or doing their work? Remember that time is a valuable resource and you don’t want it spent on office gossip.
Sometimes it’s good to follow the rules because it’s your pleasure to do so rather than a requirement.
You Have to Finish People’s Sentences
Your mind is fast and so is your tongue. Sometimes, they don’t like waiting. But it can be very disrespectful to cut someone off and finish their sentence for them. This is especially bad if you you come to a different conclusion.
It can be frustrating to deal with slow talkers or people who may not be very articulate. You may think that finishing their sentences is a good way to save time.
Letting the other person talk will prevent hurt feeling and costly misunderstandings. Consider how many mistakes were made because people never took the time to communicate effectively.
By staying silent, when you feel like jumping in, you’ll be praised for being a good listener. Good listeners are loved and respected.
Maybe it’s time to bring Ken Okel to your next meeting…
Read any good books lately?
