While at the agency one afternoon, I received a call from reception that my guests had arrived and were waiting for me in the office’s lobby. It was my opportunity to meet the publisher and editor-in-chief of San Francisco’s most influential business publication.
Immediately outside my office are two workstations. My marketing coordinator sat in one and Kayla, who assisted the president of the agency, occupied the other.
Making small talk with my guests as we headed back to my office, we rounded the corner from reception to find Kayla sitting at her workstation with one foot propped up on the edge of her desk. She was clipping her toenails. I did a double take…I was mortified!
As the three of us passed, Kayla looked up, smiled, and said hi, all the while continuing her grooming. My guests looked at me as if to say, “What kind of a dog and pony show are you running here?”
Albeit an extreme example, Kayla is a reminder that many of us have behaviors that alienate people from wanting to associate or do business with us. This is the type of conduct that gets discussed at the water cooler and is BAD for the BRAND!
Oddball behavior reflects poorly on our personal brands and on the organizations in which we work. Kayla was oblivious to how her disgraceful behavior affected her personal brand, mine, and the agency’s. Avoid the following weak-link behaviors:
- Checking email or texting during presentations, meal times, and while driving
- Gossiping or lack of discretion in conversations, including carbon or blind copying individuals unnecessarily in email conversations
- Speaking so loudly in public areas–hallways, airplanes, restrooms–that others are exposed to your conversations
- Untempered rage, including the slamming of doors and being short with an assistant or colleague
- Unprofessional attire–ill-fitting, too casual for professional environments, threadbare, or too revealing
- Coming to work sick
- Poor hygiene, blowing your nose or clearing your throat obnoxiously, flatulating, grooming outside the lavatory
- Poor mealtime etiquette–talking with your mouth full of food, eating off others’ plates, and not waiting for others at the table to receive their food
Evolve your personal brand by being cognizant of and ridding yourself of behaviors that could prevent someone from referring you opportunities.
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This reminds me of a coworker that clipped his nails inside his office and we would all cringe as we heard each clip… but toenails out in the open with people passing by and no hesitation to stop? WOW! wow. Thanks for posting this, it makes me smile
It’s hard to believe some of this stuff happens, but it does. Client opportunities are too important to squander on anti-social behavior. Most of these bad/slovenly behaviors should have been corrected in childhood and certainly have no place in the workplace. As professionals and staff we have to understand that we are judged by clients and our peers on our total behavior, even when we are unaware we are being evaluated. Every moment is a performance; opportunities come around the bend without warning. Unless we integrate good/professional behavior at all times we will fail. Thanks, Jonathan, for the reminder.
Once again, you’ve hit a home run! I’ve experienced all of your examples in my networking and business travels. Of course, there are more: getting tipsy at work or business events, using foul language, bad mouthing the competition, telling people they are not welcome at the event, etc. It would be great to have that British woman who hosted the game show with you at those times so she could tell the offender: “You ARE the wekest link”!
Another tremendous post! When Jonathan talks, people listen!
Shawn McCarthy
“Speaking so loudly in public areas–hallways, airplanes, restrooms–that others are exposed to your conversations”
In my mind, this one has become epidemic. I’m not sure whether it started with cell phone use, but people’s “private” conversations have become increasingly loud and in-your-face. So many times, I’ll be listening to “Pete” and “Jenny” chatting it up obnoxiously on an elevator, or in-line at a restaurant…they could be talking about a movie they want to see, or about their friends’ unplanned pregnancy, but the bottome line is that it’s rude and discourteous to everyone around them. People should be aware that our little social circles are not bubbles, and that there’s no need to subject other people unneccessarily to things that ought to be more private — even if the subject matter is completely benign, it’s still embarassing and annoying for other people to be subjected to. Teenagers have probably always behaved this way, but for professional adults it seems to be a recent phenomenon…
Another mammoth pet peeve of mine is store employees who choose to joke around and fraternize in front of the customer (who, obviously, isn’t in on the joke)…but perhaps that’s a topic for another day…..
Jonathan:
I turned beet red for you as I read this. It was appalling. What’s amazing is how people are absolutely clueless about the negative impressions they leave, and moreover, aren’t even that concerned about this.
One more “bad for the brand” behavior: People not taking any responsibility for their errors, causing people difficulty or embarrassment, or being paid to do a job and simply slacking off.
By comparison, I can see how wonderful it is when peope are “good for the brand”. I just hired a personal assistant whom I’ve now trained to be my scheduling manager. She has a work ethic and demeanor that makes me look 10 time better than I am. What a find.
Thanks for a wonderful post.
“What kind of a dog and pony show are you running here?”
Isn’t that what Philip Bosco says to Sigourney Weaver in WORKING GIRL?
Don’t expose me, Tracy! 😉
Excllent read as always – and you neglected to mention close your door while on speakerphone, because you never know who is in the office.
While your list of weakest links was very good; one I would have to add to your list is interrupting or “over-speaking” someone while they are speaking or sharing their opinion on a topic. It’s always better to sit back and listen and then share your your opinion or experience that relates to the conversation – you’ll earn more attention and more respect for your thoughts.
In my opinion, “conversations hogs” are among the weakest links in any business or personal setting!
You’re absolutely right Jeffrey! I see people interrupt all the time. It sends the message, “What I have to say is more important than what you are saying.”
Thx!
hilarious!!