- Jesi Bolandrina
- January 4, 2022
With almost a third of your life’s waking hours being spent at work, you’re bound to learn a lot and make quite a few mistakes along the way. Not everyone’s job or career defines them, but many of us can find commonality in shared experiences across any job title or industry. For every work accomplishment we’ve achieved, there’s been a work mistake or two that we wish we could take back.
Here are 7 common mistakes people make at work, as well as some advice on why you should avoid them (or handle them differently when they arise).
1. Never Saying No to Your Boss
You shouldn’t always say no to your boss. That’s obviously not a great way to build a work relationship and show your willingness to work. But, you should feel comfortable telling your boss no when they’re asking for something outside of your comfort zone or job description. This could apply to them asking you to: do a task you aren’t comfortable performing, meet an unrealistic deadline or work longer hours than you’re scheduled to.
It can be difficult to say no to someone you directly report to, but being able to push back or draw the line is important when establishing your value as a worker. When your boss knows you can be professional when handling delicate situations, you can build up your trust and be better able to discuss your professional growth.
2. Not Making Boundaries with Coworkers
Getting along with your coworkers can make or break your work days. Having coworkers you get along with can certainly make your day more enjoyable. They might even help make your job easier. But, it’s still important that you establish boundaries with the people you work with.
This could be difficult if you (or your coworkers) want to be friends outside of work. You might get along great at your workplace, but outside relationships could impact your ability to do your job and work together. If you’re not interested in mixing friends with work, let your coworkers know ahead of time so they can respect that boundary.
It can be far too easy to let work friendships muddle the job you’re there to do. Whether you’re friendly with your coworkers or not, clearly communicating how you feel can ensure everyone feels comfortable.
3. Always Being Available Outside of Work Hours
Whether you are an hourly worker or a salaried employee, you need to make it your own personal responsibility to find your own work/life balance. Being flexible and available outside of your set work hours can show your willingness to pitch in and help, but it can also be a slippery slope to always feeling like you’re on-call.
If you find yourself getting asked to work during your off-hours, consider being clear with your boss or supervisor on when you can and are willing to help. Having a good work/life balance is important to prevent burnout and fatigue.
4. Forgetting About a Meeting or Deadline
We’re all human! Sometimes, meetings or deadlines can slip our mind. When it’s an honest mistake, it’s okay. Just make sure you own up to it and take the proper steps to rectify the mistake.
First, apologize to the parties involved. Take ownership of the mistake. Acknowledging the oversight as soon as possible shows that you are remorseful but also eager to make things better. We don’t recommend over-explaining what happened. Making excuses can often be annoying and hurt your apology. Avoid over-apologizing or excessive remorse – instead, keep it simple and sincere.
5. Forgetting Who to Include in a Project or Meeting
Just like forgetting about a meeting or deadline, it’s far too easy to forget to include someone in a project or meeting. If you do, make sure you apologize to the person directly as well as acknowledge the oversight to the greater group.
Making a joke or minimizing the situation can alienate the person you forgot, and also make the others in the room feel uncomfortable. To avoid issues like this in the future, you can consult someone else on your team or in your company so they can look over your email/list/agenda to ensure everyone is included that should be. A second pair of eyes can help prevent a lot of work mistakes and potentially even save some hard feelings.
6. Assuming Everyone is On the Same Page
It can seem really innocent, but you should avoid saying things like, “I’m sure we all know” or “As we all know.” Assuming everyone is on the same page can make it very difficult for someone who has questions or needs clarification to keep up. It’s almost always safer to just quickly provide or recap information to really ensure a discussion or meeting starts off with everyone on the same page.
7. Expecting Everyone to Operate on Your Schedule
Everyone’s busy at work. Think about how annoying it can be when someone pesters you or distracts you from the task you’re trying to focus on. One of the most common work mistakes is being inconsiderate of others and their needs. If you have a question or need information, do your best to ask once and communicate how urgent your ask is. Pestering colleagues can strain your relationship and actually be detrimental to your work overall.
Similarly, make sure you tell others when you need to be left alone or when you’re out of reach. Whether it’s time off or just time you need to focus on something, your coworkers won’t know unless you tell them.
About the Author: Jesi Bolandrina is the Content Marketing Manager at Jobble. As a former gig worker, she knows how hard it can be to feel like you know what you’re doing in an ever-changing workforce. She’s your go-to for news and information from career development, to health and wellness, to finances and more. She curates Jobble’s blog, articles and is the editor of The Everyday Hustle newsletter. If you have any ideas for topics Jobble should cover, let her know.
