People Won’t Trust You

If you keep spreading the gossip, nobody will trust you. You’ll get the reputation as the office gossip and people will come to you when they want to spread something or need to know about the latest rumour. You could end up helping people spread viscous rumours that lead to others getting fired. You may miss out on that promotion or find that your friends start to hate you. You could even find yourself out of a job.

You’re Damaging Reputations

Think about what you’re doing to the reputations of others. You could damage their chances for a promotion or even ruin their relationships with others. Is it really worth it just for a few words that you’re saying to someone else?

The next time you hear rumours, consider dispelling them to stop the damage to reputations. If you can’t stop them, at least prevent yourself being a part of the problem and tell the person who is the character in the rumour.

You’re Causing Trouble

Even if the rumour isn’t going to damage someone’s reputation, you’re causing trouble. You’ll get the reputation as a trouble maker, and it could cause some problems for you.

As people realise that you’re a trouble maker, they’ll want to stay away to avoid getting pulled into being trouble by association.

It Could Lead to Legal Action

Spreading rumours isn’t just a game. Your words could be considered slander and libel, which could lead to some legal action heading your way. It is extremely expensive trying to deal with these lawsuits, even if you are found innocent in the end. It does matter if you’ve said something or sent a tweet or email. It could all come back to haunt you legally.

People Are Hurt by the Gossip

You’re hurting other people in the office or your friends by spreading the gossip. What you see as being fun and silly, others see as being part of their livelihood.

It could be a funny rumour about someone liking a particular band or pastime, but that could lead to them being bullied or ridiculed by others. While the gossip isn’t damaging their relationship with others directly, it could lead to various social problems in the future and you’ll be the person they blame.

You’re Promoting Negativity in the Office

Office morale gets low when there is a lot of negative energy. It’s up to you to push against the negativity and promote the positive flow, and you can do that by stopping the gossip.

While you can’t control others, you can at least control yourself. Negative energy is also draining on you, as well as damaging the morale in the office.

Constantly Saying No

While it is difficult to say yes to everything – and you don’t have to – a bad worker will always say no.

You may tell your boss your own opinion on a task or refuse to work to a specification. This shows that you aren’t willing to do what is best for the team or the company.

You Don’t Like Hearing No

When your boss tells you that you can’t do something, how do you react? Everyone will be disappointed but do you take that disappointment to another level?

Do you fake being sick so you can get the day off that you wanted or refuse to do more work until you get your own way?

There is a reason your boss has said no to your request or your opinion and a good worker will accept that.

You Blame Everything on Others

There are times that you do things wrong. A good worker will own up to his or her mistakes, correct them and then move on. A bad worker will find something or someone else to blame the mistakes on.

Of course, if something really isn’t your fault – maybe you were given the wrong instructions to the manager – you need to make sure there is a balance in the workplace.

You Love to Gossip

While everyone loves a good gossip over the water cooler, it’s a bad sign if you’re always the one to start it.

You won’t make friends in the workplace and your boss will find out the person spreading the rumours. You’ll be passed over for promotion every time since you won’t be a team player.

You’re Outspoken

This can be tricky for bosses. While they want someone to meet clients and customers to sell the company, they want someone who will do it with tact – who will put the company first.

If you are outspoken, stubborn and don’t have the ability to know when to keep your mouth shut, your boss will think twice about sending you.

You Think You’re Better

You think you’re better than the clients, than the others you work with or your boss. This is a clear sign that you are a bad worker.

Nobody likes a know-it-all and your boss won’t appreciate being told he’s wrong all the time.

You Can’t Work in a Team

Sometimes you have to do what is best for the team. That may mean doing something that you are uncomfortable with or letting someone else take the lead.

It may mean keeping your ideas to yourself! If you can’t work as a team and always want to lead, you won’t last long in your job.