Let’s face it, we all can’t be C-suite executives with a private, corner office. Most of us may work in cubicles or shared spaces and with that being said, working around other people for 40 hours a week may get on your nerves. So, what coworker behaviors annoy you the most? A recent survey from Accountemps® has the answer.
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According to Accountemps, chief financial officers were asked, “Which one of the following coworker behaviors annoys you the most?” Their responses:
- Lacking attention to detail or sloppy work—35%
- Gossiping or engaging in office politics—28%
- Missing deadlines—17%
- Being perpetually late—12%
- Presenting other’s ideas as one’s own—8%
Surprisingly, gossiping coworkers has fallen by 5% compared to a previous survey, but lacking attention to detail still remains as the number one annoyance. According to Bill Driscoll—district president for Accountemps, “Staff members shouldn’t rely on others to catch their mistakes … Organizations benefit when employees slow down to review a project carefully before submitting because there is less need for revisions later and reduced risk that uncaught mistakes damage the companies’ reputation. Hitting the ‘pause button’ also allows professionals to think about how they work and whether there are better and more innovative approaches they can take.”
So, how can one counteract annoying behaviors in the workplace? Accountemps offers these tips:
- Reduce distractions. Checking e-mails while proofreading a critical report or perusing social media while performing complicated calculations can lead to embarrassing mistakes. Set aside dedicated time to focus solely on a task, while avoiding outside “noise” like texts and e-mails.
- Simplify big projects. Large and complex assignments can be overwhelming—which can, in turn, lead to procrastination. In the mad dash to meet a deadline, mistakes can easily be made. Avoid this scenario by dividing work into smaller, more manageable tasks.
- Take a break. Spending long hours on the computer can be exhausting. A short pause during the workday or stepping out of the office can help give fresh perspective when returning later to the assignment.
- Enlist help from coworkers. Build time into the process for a trusted colleague to provide a “second pair of eyes” to check accuracy and work quality. Be sure to acknowledge that person’s contributions and reciprocate in the future.
- Take time to assess expectations. Meet briefly with your manager at the start of a complex assignment to discuss goals and clarify any outstanding issues.
What coworker behaviors annoy you most? Share it in our comments section below, or e-mail us, and it could be featured in the next HRSBT!
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Melissa Blazejak is a Senior Web Content Editor at BLR. She has written articles for HR.BLR.com and the HR Daily Advisor websites and is responsible for the day-to-day management of HR.BLR.com and HRLaws.com. She has been at BLR since 2014. She graduated with a BA of Science, specializing in Communication, from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2008. Most recently, she graduated in 2014 with a MS of Educational Technology.