What you consider to be innocent small talk, bonding with co-workers, or just doing your job, may be doing more damage than you think.

Work Mistake #1: Talking Politics If you are talking politics at work and a co-worker bashes your candidate preference, how do you feel? I would assume a little upset. You may also feel that they are uninformed or ignorant. Now, imagine how that co-worker feels if you do the same to them? Eeek! Not everyone is the same, some people just don’t care, but it’s the ones who do care you should be watching out for!

Work Mistake #2: Being Too Modest

It is impossible to be great at everything, but we do have our strengths. If you are good at what you do and you know it, boast it! Not only could you be helping your team or your company, but you could be helping yourself! Next time that promotion comes around, you just might be the person to get it!

Work Mistake #3: Talking More Than You Listen

Let’s face it, we all love to talk. We don’t mind listening when its good news but gossip is so tempting and lectures are so annoying! Hold yourself back! If its gossip, that’s negative, so stay away. If it’s a lecture, you just may learn something.

Work Mistake #4: Downplaying Your Mistakes

You goofed! It isn’t the end of the world but you can’t fix something you won’t admit too. Admit to what you did wrong, figure out why it went wrong, and then fix it so it won’t happen again.

Work Mistake #5: Declining An Offer For A Promotion

You may be thinking that you don’t want the responsibility or you may just be happy with the position you are in but think of it this way: if you decline the position you will more than likely be assigned the work but without the pay. Its not supposed to be fair, it just is.

Work Mistake #6: Agreeing to Disagree

Unless you truly know what you are agreeing with, don’t agree with it. If a co-working is acting in an unethical manner, don’t be okay with it. If your boss is leading your team towards failure, say something. It is better to stand up and chance embarrassment then it is to loose your job for not saying anything.

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