Chapter 23: Behaviours, Values and Etiquette at Work

Recommendation – (use this as a checklist till it becomes a part of your DNA)

Corporate work ethics are essential for keeping yourself on track for longevity and success while fostering a positive and productive work environment. Here are some key ones:

1. Integrity: Acting with honesty and integrity is crucial in the corporate world. This means being truthful in your communications, honouring commitments and agreements, and adhering to ethical standards even when faced with difficult decisions.
2. Respect: It is fundamental to treat colleagues, clients, and stakeholders with respect. This includes respecting their opinions, perspectives, and boundaries and valuing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
3. Accountability: Taking responsibility for your actions and their outcomes is a cornerstone of good work ethics. This means owning up to mistakes, learning from them, and taking proactive steps to rectify any errors or shortcomings.
4. Professionalism: It is essential to maintain a professional demeanour in all interactions and situations. This includes dressing appropriately for the workplace, communicating effectively and courteously, and conducting oneself with dignity and decorum.
5. Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with colleagues and contributing to team goals is vital for success in corporate environments. This involves being cooperative, supportive, and willing to share knowledge and resources for the collective benefit of the team.
6. Adaptability: In today’s dynamic business landscape, being adaptable and flexible in the face of change is increasingly important. This means embracing new challenges, learning new skills, and adjusting to shifting priorities and circumstances with a positive attitude.
7. Professional Development: Continuously seeking opportunities for learning and growth is a key aspect of corporate work ethics. This involves staying updated on industry trends, acquiring new skills, and striving for personal and professional development to enhance organisational value.
8. Confidentiality: Respecting the confidentiality of sensitive information is paramount in corporate settings. This includes safeguarding proprietary data, client information, and any other confidential or proprietary material entrusted to you by the organization.

By adhering to these corporate work ethics, individuals contribute to a culture of trust, respect, and professionalism within their organizations, ultimately driving success and sustainability in the long term.

In addition, several work-related behaviours are generally considered unacceptable in professional environments due to their negative impact on productivity, morale, and workplace culture. Some of these behaviours include:

1. Tardiness: Consistently arriving late to work or meetings demonstrates a lack of respect for colleagues’ time and disrupts workflow schedules.
2. Gossiping/Backbiting: Engaging in gossip or spreading rumours about colleagues undermines trust and teamwork within the workplace, creating a toxic environment.
3. Bullying/Harassment: Any form of bullying, harassment, or discrimination based on characteristics such as race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation is unacceptable and can lead to legal consequences as well as significant harm to individuals and the organization.
4. Dishonesty: Lying, cheating, or manipulating information undermines trust and integrity in the workplace, eroding relationships and damaging the organization’s reputation.
5. Sabotage: Deliberately undermining the work or reputation of colleagues or the organization itself is harmful and can have serious consequences for both individuals and the company.
6. Passing blame: Failing to take responsibility for mistakes or shortcomings and instead blaming others is unproductive and creates a culture of defensiveness rather than accountability and problem-solving.
7. Disrespect: Behaviors such as rudeness, condescension, or dismissiveness towards colleagues, clients, or stakeholders are detrimental to workplace relationships and can create a hostile work environment.
8. Misuse of company resources: Using company time, equipment, or resources for personal gain or non-work-related activities is unethical and can result in disciplinary action.
9. Lack of cooperation: Refusing to collaborate with colleagues, hoarding information, or undermining team efforts inhibits productivity and innovation within the organization.
10. Insubordination: Openly defying or refusing to follow instructions from supervisors or management undermines authority and disrupts the chain of command, leading to dysfunction within the organization.