10 Bad Work Habits That Hold Back Your Career (And 10 Good Habits to Develop)

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Sarah was excited to join a large retailer as a sales rep. During her interviews, she found out that teamwork and communication were valued in that company. So, she used every free minute to approach her coworkers with stories, ask questions, or share weekend plans. She genuinely wanted to make friends, but to her surprise, everyone started to stay away from her...

Your daily habits are just as important for your professional success as your skills and competencies. Even minor repeated actions affect your job performance, relationships with coworkers, and your professional life in general.

No matter how qualified you are. If you display poor time management, negative thinking, and bad communication with others, it may affect your chances for promotion (or even keeping your job).

In this guide, you'll find everything you need for addressing bad work habits. We'll share the exact bad work habits that employers hate and what habits to develop instead to progress in your career faster.

Keep reading to find out how Sarah's story has ended - and what steps you can take to turn your bad habits into productive ones.

What are bad habits at work?

Bad work habits are repeated behavioral patterns that diminish your productivity, sabotage your professional relationships, and affect your work performance. For example, spending valuable working time on personal matters, showing up late or badmouthing your boss are surely bad habits.

However, some bad work habits are in the gray area. It means that you might not see them as something genuinely bad, and yet they can affect a positive work environment and company culture. For example, you don't follow the company's dress code or are too talkative with coworkers.

To navigate you through negative actions and help you break bad habits, we've prepared a list of unwanted behavior at work.

Top 10 bad work habits to get rid of today

Your pathway to building helpful professional habits starts with eliminating bad ones and professional misconduct. Check if you have one of these bad habits, and start fixing them immediately:

1. Showing up late

One of the most popular workplace sins is tardiness. You may show up late because you have a solid reason for that, but if you appear at the door when your colleagues are up to their ears in work, it's a warning sign. Being late a few times a month communicates lack of organizational skills and probably little interest in your job in general. Moreover, the statistic claims that 1 in 5 employees fired someone because of tardiness.

2. Taking too many breaks

It's true that regular breaks improve productivity. Yet, you still want to come across as a hard-working, reliable employee. And if you leave your desk every hour to take a walk, have a coffee, or chat with a friend from another department, this isn't sending the right message. Not only it prevents you from concentrating on the task, but also other colleagues who don't take breaks at all might be cross with you.

3. Dressing unprofessionally

Casual environment is not an excuse to look sloppy in the workplace. Even if there isn't a strict dress code in your organization, you need to look tidy and stick to more conservative outfit choices. This is especially important if you work in the customer-facing position. Untidy clothes send the message “I don't care much about the position and the company” which isn't the impression you want to make.

4. Being not organized in the office

Cluttered desk with tea cups, piles of papers and markers everywhere make not the best of impression. Yet, poor organizational skills aren't only about having a messy desk and a cluttered desktop. Do you forget to send a clarification email or submit an important project according to the deadline? Do you struggle to find the contract on your computer or show up for meetings unprepared? Then, you might want to reconsider this habit.

5. Negative attitude

Your attitude at work is contagious, and this explains why people like to be around positive, enthusiastic coworkers. If you often complain about things, gossip or display other signs of negative attitude, this isn't going to help you climb up that corporate ladder. Moreover, it makes others less willing to work with you. If you tend to be negative in the office, you can change the situation by restraining yourself from negative comments and offering solutions instead.

6. Poor communication

Communication skills are essential not only for sales reps and social media managers. Poor communication skills lead to misunderstanding, which results in late delivery of projects, setbacks in teamwork and tense workplace relationships. If you respond to work-related emails late, don't listen to opinions of others or argue with others, it's a sign that you need to work on this issues. Good communication abilities are valued by employer and can help you find a graduate job faster.

7. Being too talkative

An occasional chitchat can relieve the stress, but you should know when to stop. Nobody likes the annoying colleagues who dominates all office conversations and meetings and distracts other team members from work by breaking into their cubicles. Not only that, talking too much instead of working during office hours means that you are less productive than your coworkers, and communicates poor work ethics.

8. Frequent distractions

Whether you work in the office or remotely, distractions are hard to avoid. A coworker sending you another update on the project, push notifications on your phone, or an impulse to check on your online order aren't good for your productivity. They make you lose focus, waste time on non-relevant matters, and aren't good for your mental health. To combat distractions, put your phone on silent and ask the coworkers not to disturb you when you work on an important task.

9. Getting disconnected from the team

If you work remotely, not staying in touch with a team is a real problem. You might miss video conferencing meetings, respond to emails late or be unsure about what your coworkers work on this week. All this can drop down your productivity and job satisfaction, plus you might feel lonely and isolated. The solution is simple: stay in touch with your coworkers on chats, video calls, or in person and stay updated on everything.

10. Not learning new technology

Like it or not, technology affects every field. New software and the widespread use of the AI impact the way we work. If you don't learn the new software and technology, quite soon you'll lag behind the ambitious folks who stay abreast of the new advances in technology in their field. How to fix it? Read the job descriptions and industry forums to find out what software and tools your colleagues use, and master them at your pace.

Now that you know the top bad work habits that employers hate, it's time to beat them.

How to break bad workplace habits?

To stop bad work habits and start productive ones, you'll need two things: a clear goal and persistence. By taking one step at a time, you'll increase your self-awareness and open doors for professional growth.

Know your goals

Before addressing bad work habits, you need to create a motivation for developing new patterns. Think about how getting rid of old habits will help you improve the relationship with your boss, help customers better, or complete all tasks at work without staying late. By setting a clear, measurable goal, you'll feel more inspired to stop doing things that damage your career.

Identify problematic behaviors

If you're not quite sure what exactly could be improved about your attitude and performance, reach out to your supervisor. They might respond that your lunch break lasts too long, or that you take on multiple tasks and don't meet deadlines on them. You can work with your supervisor to develop a personal development plan. It will benefit the organization and encourage you to get rid of counterproductive behavior.

Find the alternatives to your habits

Now that you're aware of habits that hold you back, find their helpful alternatives. Say, if you struggle to meet deadlines, you might try productivity tools to focus on one task at a time. If your poor communication skills are the issue, consider taking training on professional communication. On average, it takes 66 days before your new habits become automatic.

Ask for feedback

Reach out to your supervisor for feedback every 2-3 weeks. You'll want to make sure that they notice your progress and you're moving in the right direction. You can reach out to your coworkers, too, especially if your new habits are about communication or teamwork.

Sarah, whom we have mentioned at the beginning, followed these exact steps to combat her bad habit. Here's how her story ended:

...After a direct conversation with a senior rep, she was surprised to know that others saw her behavior as intrusive and annoying. Her friendliness made a negative impact, distracting everyone from work. She consciously changed her approach and did not use every single minute to initiate a conversation. Instead, she focused on more work-related talks and became a better listener. Over time, her relationships with coworkers improved dramatically, which also reflected on her job performance.

Top 10 productive work habits for your success

Have you noticed one or more counterproductive habits about yourself? It's time to replace them with good habits that will drive your career forward. Take a look at the positive habits you might want to develop:

1. Block unnecessary distractions

Distractions are what prevents us from doing work on time and staying focused on business activities throughout the day. Your smartphone, chats with colleagues, unscheduled breaks all serve as distractions, so you might want to get rid of them. Put your phone aside and tell your colleagues not to disturb you when you're focused on an important project. Thus, you'll get more things done and gain a reputation of a dependable employee.

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2. Get organized and punctual

Organization and punctuality go hand in hand. If you plan things carefully and set reasonable time frame for completing each activity, you'll find it easy to deliver result on time. So, be sure to create to-do lists, prioritize tasks, and set deadlines. Use the planning tools that appeal to you most. Some are comfortable with a plain paper to-do list while other prefer calendar with reminders on their smartphones or even the project management software.

3. Cultivate positive mindset

Positive mindset helps us stay productive, improves our relationships with others, and impacts our overall well-being. If you have a bad habit of complaining too much, focusing on problems instead of solutions, or gossiping, it's time to combat negativity. Start noticing something good about the project you work on, people in your team, and the opportunity to learn something new. Trust us, looking at the bright side works wonders!

4. Aim to search for solutions instead of complaining

If you are unhappy about something, whether it's about your responsibilities or how something works in the company, restrain from whining and complaining. Instead, come up with the idea of how this can be improved. In this case, you'll be seen as a proactive employee who is looking to make things work better rather than someone who is constantly dissatisfied with somethings and annoys others with their complaints.

5. Don't gossip or badmouth others

Talking behind the back of some colleague or even boss is the nerve-wracking way to make mundane office days more enjoyable. Yet, it's best for your career to stay away from office gossip and intrigues. Gossiping can destroy relationships within the team or between you and your boss and eventually cost you a pay raise or a promotion. Thus, the rule of thumb is to remain neutral and focus on work.

6. Ask questions and seek help

If you don't know how something work, it's better to seek help of a colleague. Asking for help when you need it can save you time and prevent you from making a mistake that may be costly for company. Moreover, seeking guidance on professional matter improves relationships within the team and helps others feel better as they share their expertise.
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7. Be willing to take on extra responsibility

Career progression begins when you step outside the comfort zone and take on the new and unfamiliar responsibility. If you are asked to lead a new project or to replace for an absent boss, don't reject this offer. Thus, you'll show your loyalty for the company and willingness to go an extra mile, which is always valued. You'll also get invaluable experience which can lead to you to a promotion in the future. And even if it doesn't you'll definitely earn new skills that you can add to a resume.

8. Give (and receive) constructive feedback

Giving constructive feedback as a work habit means appreciating the person's input and efforts while pointing out where certain tasks could be done better. And vice versa, if boss criticizes your work, develop a positive habit of being thankful for their feedback and act on it. After all, good bosses criticize to help you spend time more productively and grow as an employee.

9. Set personal problems aside at work

One of the best work habits that many employees should develop is setting boundaries between personal life and work. This workplace habit is essential to stay organized and create environment for focused, deep work. To develop this critical workplace habit, set physical boundaries first. During working hours, focus on professional tasks of your current job only. Don't make personal calls, don't check social media or use search engine to look up for something you don't need for work.

If you don't get distracted by personal matters during office hours, you'll make a better impression on your boss. Moreover, when you are focused on professional tasks only, you will save time and complete your tasks faster.

10. Set personal problems aside at work

One of the best work habits that many employees should develop is setting boundaries between personal life and work. This workplace habit is essential to stay organized and create environment for a focused, deep work. To develop this critical workplace habit, set physical boundaries first. During working hours, focus on professional tasks of your current job only. Don't make personal calls, don't check social media or use search engine to look up for something you don't need for work.

If you don't get distracted by personal matters during office hours, you'll make a better impression on your boss. Moreover, when you are focused on professional tasks only, you will save time and complete your tasks faster.

11. Beat procrastination

Procrastinating and postponing your job duties is not a healthy habit, and it can slow down your professional development. As a rule, even productive people procrastinate when the task looks too complex or rather unpleasant.  But not everyone knows how to overcome procrastination in favor of effective working habits.

First of all, you need to break the complex task into small, actionable steps. When you can complete each small step and see the result, it will help you to keep working on the project on a positive note. Experts also recommend that you start your day with the most unpleasant and dreadful task, so that the rest of the working tasks will look more enjoyable.

To sum up, all good workplace habits boil down to the following:

• The ability to communicate effectively and show high emotional intelligence as a team player and build positive relationships with coworkers and subordinates;
• A willingness to go beyond the job description, fill the skills or knowledge gaps and take on an important task to help the company succeed;
• The ability to stay organized even in stressful situations, manage tasks, priorities and deadlines so that colleagues and boss could rely on you;
• Maintaining a positive attitude, actively listen to feedback of others and moving forward in completing certain projects with a go-to attitude.

Cultivating good workplace habits will help you improve your professional reputation, get more productive and organized, and open new paths for career development. With our recommendations, you'll easily beat bad work habits and start productive ones that will make a positive effect on your well-being and career.

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