How to Get Rid of Bad Work Habits

To present a positive professional image that propels your career, you must get rid of any bad habits you exhibit at work. Everyone has them, even the most successful people. If allowed to run unchecked, bad habits can seriously damage and stall a career. Bad work habits in most cases have become routine to the point that you hardly even notice them anymore. However, other people recognize them and are negatively impacted by the habit itself as well as your indifference. To get rid of bad habits for good, consider these steps.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Determination to Get Rid of Bad Work Habits
• Perseverance

1. Take an inventory of the habits or mannerisms that irritate others at work. Try to determine what caused the bad habit in the first place.

2. Choose a habit that's easy to correct first, and then as you succeed in changing it try a more difficult one next.

3. Make the desired outcome very specific and attainable. For example, if you have a bad habit of keeping a messy desk or work station, you could set a goal to organize your area for 10 minutes when you first arrive and 10 minutes before you leave work.

4. If you have any of these typical bad work habits, take steps to correct them immediately.

   a) Constantly late for work or for appointments - Set your alarm clock or watch for an earlier departure time.

   b) Poor grooming and body care - Pay special attention to hair and facial grooming. Bathe thoroughly and use appropriate toiletries to prevent body odor.

   c) Making or receiving too many personal phone calls (whether on the company phone or your personal cell phone) - Turn your cell phone off during work hours. Use break and lunch times to make calls.

   d) Lack of follow-through - Commit to meeting deadlines and keeping every promise you make at work.

5. After getting rid of bad work habits, be careful not to pick up any of your co-workers' bad habits that will form new ones.

Resources

• Savvy Job Search Tips