10 workplace blunders to avoid

1: Say or write anything you don't want someone to know

You have zero expectation of privacy at work and should therefore assume that anything and everything is being recorded for all eternity and will come back to haunt you at the worst possible time. That includes emails, phone calls, even hallway or parking lot conversations.

2: Over-apologize

We all make mistakes and it’s always good to fess up, but in business, you can go too far and actually make matters worse. If it’s a minor issue, just a quick “sorry about that” is fine. If it’s a big screw-up, apologize in private, face-to-face. Look the guy in the eye, say your piece, and be done with it. If you want confirmation, then ask, “Are we good now?” Don’t grovel, make promises you can’t keep, or anything else. Just man-up and leave it alone.

3: Take your smartphone to the bathroom

Hopeless addiction to smartphones, needing to stay connected 24×7, and being constantly pressed for time do not belong in a place where flushes can be heard on the other end of the line or, God forbid, the thing can drop into something wet, white, and porcelain. Leave it in your pocket and if it rings, have the good sense not to answer.

4: Cross swords with your boss, your boss’s boss, or any other boss

Too many of you just don’t get how civilization, organization, or the lack of either — which we affectionately call the jungle — works. You simply don’t square off with your boss or anyone in the chain of command. If you lose, you lose; if you win, you still lose. It’ll end badly and reflect badly on you no matter how it goes down. If you want to know how to deal with a bad boss, click the link.

5: Go looking for trouble

If you’re in a bad mood or pissed off at somebody, walk it off or treat yourself to a nice greasy donut or something. If you go looking for trouble, however, I can almost guarantee you will find it and it won’t end well for you. Don’t pick fights, push buttons, or otherwise give anyone a hard time. It’s called acting out, it’s childish, and it’ll stunt your career, big-time.

6: Make commitments you can’t keep or exaggerate your ability or influence

And don’t lie, either. The more straightforward and genuine you are, the smoother your career — and your life, for that matter — will go. Do what you say you’re going to do and leave the BS for the other guy. Your credibility will grow, people will count on you for more and more, and off you go.

7: Get angry, abusive, combative, or loud in an open or cubicle area

Admittedly, I was often guilty of this back in the day. It wasn’t acceptable then and it’s not acceptable now, but at least then, it was a relatively common occurrence. These days, you stand out like a big bully. And nobody likes a bully.

8: Say or do stuff people really don’t want to hear or see

“Too much information” might be a bit subjective, but there’s a common sense line you shouldn’t cross.

9: Act like a whiny, PITA negatron

If you’re a big crybaby, nobody will want to have anything to do with you. It’s ironic, but those who do all the complaining are the ones who make the workplace a living hell, not the people or stuff they’re always whining about. Think about it.

10: Talk trash about a coworker to anyone, anywhere on company property

You can be sure it’ll get around and come back to bite you in the end. Save it for friends, your spouse, or better still, the dog.

‘Anna’rchy or Democracy?

I was amazed to see a person in his late 60’s talking about Anna in a local train at Tambaram amidst shouts of Tea, Coffee and Samosa and guess – what? He don’t know about Jan Lokpall bill.

Thumbs up to Anna and his team for bringing the 2 India’s together, which is rare to see in our nation except on the occasion of cricket matches. The moment had gathered support not just from the upper middle class, it goes – well beyond the dabbawallas of Mumbai. But is this what the ‘Nav Nirman India’ wants?

It is a clear undermining of democracy, you cannot dictate legislation. This moment is setting a wrong precedent for the largest democracy of the world. 64 years of democracy in peril. Anna saying this as a second freedom struggle is turning our first freedom struggle a farce.

I wish to use the few lines from the shobhaa De’s blog. It goes like this “Anna is the messenger. Not the message. The cause is far bigger than the individual. Take away those TV cameras, and front page coverage, and see what happens. Everybody is jumping onto the Anna bandwagon, even those who don't quite know what this is all about. Let's not confuse issues and personalities.”

I see people having placards stating “I am Anna”, “I support Anna”. Is this what the issue is? Team Anna fighting for a good cause, by mistake are polarizing the community – those who support Anna and those who don’t. I feel pathetic for those kind of people who spew venom on social networking sites for speaking against Anna and his team.

It’s a mere desperation of people of India to fill someone as their leader and he came at a right time to fill the vacuum, Anna - Self proclaimed Gandhian. Ufff…Please leave Gandhi here at least. A Gandhian never shows disrespect by burning copies of Lok Pall bill passed by the parliament. Anna quick to react, I believe in parliament, but not in parliamentarians. What does it means or to infer? Are people of India, so stupid to elect people – who are not trust-worthy? So, Anna doesn’t believe us either? But he wants our support. People today are in streets not for Jan Lok Pall bill, they are in streets due to frustration from corruption, price rise and for a change. Gandhi can make Dandi, a place unknown to a historical place. Why not Anna accept the condition as JP Park as a fast venue instead of RamLila Maidan? Well, Cameras - light up bright in Ram Lila maidan!

A Gandhian strategy – Some people in team Anna are Kiran Bedi - former IPS officer, Arvind Kejriwal - social activist, Prashant Bushan – noted lawyer, Shanti Bushan – former law minister in the Morarji desai cabinet, Manish Sisodia – former Zee news producer and Shazia Ilmi – former lead anchor with Star News. A good set of recipe for the perfect climax. Strategy followed, no breaking news or important press conferences on Saturdays and Sundays. This is when no debate takes place, because lead anchors take a day-off and channels run pre-recorded shows. Also during the 2.30pm and 7.30pm slots, when the vernacular channels runs saas – bahu news and sports news respectively.

At the end, does Jan Lok Pall Bill ends Corruption? A big ‘NO’ – Leave the Lok Pall bill, even the Jan Lok Pall bill, touches the creamy layer of executives. PM, judiciary – well another parallel government in running. The bill doesn’t cover what an ordinary citizen of India is looking for. It doesn’t stop a traffic constable taking bribe on the roadside accountable or freedom from touts in the railway station or a person taking bribe for changing the caste certificate from FC to BC, why not MBC? The bill doesn’t cover either the corporate big houses. Why the creamy layer of executives? This is the place where the decibel levels are high.

I was really surprised to hear Prashant Bushan – one of the minds behind the Jan Lok pall bill, talking about the referendum in a news channel. He went a step forward to pitch on the Indo – US nuclear deal. Country like India, where the sizeable chunk are illiterate, do they know the complexities involved on these issues. Tomorrow, lets have a referendum on Kashmir, Telengana and also, why not on the budget of our nation?

The GOI is to be blamed for such a mess in the society and also a leaderless opposition.

We can really hope better sense prevails and the issues are highlighted in a way they are to be raised and not on personalities. Jai Ho India!