Workplace BehaviorsCareer Preparedness

Top 5 Characteristics of an Ideal Employee

1.Dependability2.Honesty/Integrity3.Proactive/Positive Attitude4.Willing to Work5.Uses Down Time Productively

Dependability● Stable mood● Always follows directions● Consistently accurate● Works independently ● Easy to get along with● Good grooming and hygiene● On time● Good attendance● Cooperative● Practice and interested attitude● Team player

Honesty/Integrity● Doing your best work for your

work team, your company, and your boss.

Proactive/Positive Attitude● Proactive- you go after things and don’t wait for them to come to

you. (using initiative) ● Good Attitude

o Smileo Positiveo Pleasant tone of voiceo Complaining through proper channelso Respect/courtesyo Managing conflict angero Good job performanceo Interested in others

Willing to Work ● Ability/desire to work● Intelligence● Self-Confidence● Responsibility● Leadership● High energy● Imagination● Flexibility● Handles conflict● Sets goals

Uses Down Time Wisely● Reads journals about the company and

industry● Reads about current trends● Asks for or finds a new tasks to do;

help someone● Think of ways to do something better.● Clean/organize work area

Body Language in the Workplace

● You must be aware of your body language in the workplace.

● You do not want to send the wrong signals to co-workers or your boss.

● What are some examples of positive and negative body language?

Body Language in the Workplace

● Exampleso Aggressive- standing with your hands on your

hips.o Confidence- standing uprighto Defensive- arms crossed on your chesto Thinking- resting your hand on your cheeko Doubt/Lying- touching or rubbing your noseo Boredom- resting your head on your hands or

yawningo Impatience- tapping your fingers

Body Language in the Workplace

● Exampleso Nervous/Insecure- biting your nailso Insecure- playing with your hairo Disbelief/Doubt- rubbing your eyes

Find My Group ActivityEach of you will be given a sheet of paper with an emotion on it. Two of you will have the same emotion. You are to go around the room and give an example of that emotion without speaking. You have to find your match.

Conflict ResolutionTypes of Resolution:● Accomodate (neutral)- gives in to another whether they want to

or not. ● Avoidance (negative)- avoid the conflict and it grows into a

larger problem. ● Collaborate (positive)- working together to reach a solution that

meets the needs of everyone. ● Competitive (negative)- often used by a boss or supervisor, using

their power to make a decision when there is an emergency and the conflict must be resolved immediately.

● Compromise (positive)- partially satisfy everyone involved. Everyone gives up something in order to get something they want.

Proactive/Reactive Worker● Proactive- action done in anticipation

of a future problem or need.

● Reactive- an action caused by being stressed or upset.

Do’s and Don’ts of Business Attire

Do’s:● Comb your hair● Brush your teeth● Take a shower● Trim your fingernails● Shave your face (men)● Shave your legs (women)● Wear a suit (men & ladies)● Clothes pressed & clean● Wear dark blue or gray suits with

white shirts● Solid color tie or tie w/ small

patterns● Shoes should be polished● Wear socks that match the color of

your suit pants● “Zip your fly”● Wear a leather belt that matches the

color of your shoes

Don’ts:● Spend too much $ on your clothes● Have bad breath and/or food in your

teeth● t-shirt, jeans, gym shoes● Loud ties● Loud suits (bright colors)● Wear slacks without a belt● Display tattoos or body piercings● Display a lot of jewelry● Wear tight clothes● Reek of body odor● Leave your hair messy● Wrinkled clothes

What Should I Wear?Business Scenario 1:● You are going to meet a

new client for the first time. This client lives on a ranch in Southern Texas and lives in a very casual environment. By the way, you will be visiting this client in early July.

Attire Choices:A. Your pajamas and fuzzy, pink bunny

slippers.B. The best suit you own, with a white

shirt and solid-color tie.C. Business casual, polo shirt and

casual slacks--the shirt should be short sleeved.

D. Your regular, everyday business attire as dictated by the company rules.

E. Shirt and tie, so you look professional but not too dressed-up

F. Wear a nice suit, just for the feel of being professional. SInce you won’t actually be seen, the colors don’t matter, but you have to “feel” professional.

What Should I Wear?Business Scenario 2:● You have a lunch meeting

with your department colleagues in the cafeteria at work.

Attire Choices:A. Your pajamas and fuzzy, pink bunny

slippers.B. The best suit you own, with a white

shirt and solid-color tie.C. Business casual, polo shirt and

casual slacks--the shirt should be short sleeved.

D. Your regular, everyday business attire as dictated by the company rules.

E. Shirt and tie, so you look professional but not too dressed-up

F. Wear a nice suit, just for the feel of being professional. SInce you won’t actually be seen, the colors don’t matter, but you have to “feel” professional.

What Should I Wear?Business Scenario 3:● You have a meeting in the

boardroom with company directors and the company CEO.

Attire Choices:A. Your pajamas and fuzzy, pink bunny

slippers.B. The best suit you own, with a white

shirt and solid-color tie.C. Business casual, polo shirt and

casual slacks--the shirt should be short sleeved.

D. Your regular, everyday business attire as dictated by the company rules.

E. Shirt and tie, so you look professional but not too dressed-up

F. Wear a nice suit, just for the feel of being professional. SInce you won’t actually be seen, the colors don’t matter, but you have to “feel” professional.

What Should I Wear?Business Scenario 4:● You are going to a four-

hour staff meeting for a planning session.

Attire Choices:A. Your pajamas and fuzzy, pink bunny

slippers.B. The best suit you own, with a white

shirt and solid-color tie.C. Business casual, polo shirt and

casual slacks--the shirt should be short sleeved.

D. Your regular, everyday business attire as dictated by the company rules.

E. Shirt and tie, so you look professional but not too dressed-up

F. Wear a nice suit, just for the feel of being professional. SInce you won’t actually be seen, the colors don’t matter, but you have to “feel” professional.

What Should I Wear?Business Scenario 5:● You have a phone

conference call from your home at 6:00 A.M.

Attire Choices:A. Your pajamas and fuzzy, pink bunny

slippers.B. The best suit you own, with a white

shirt and solid-color tie.C. Business casual, polo shirt and

casual slacks--the shirt should be short sleeved.

D. Your regular, everyday business attire as dictated by the company rules.

E. Shirt and tie, so you look professional but not too dressed-up

F. Wear a nice suit, just for the feel of being professional. SInce you won’t actually be seen, the colors don’t matter, but you have to “feel” professional.

What Should I Wear?Business Scenario 6:● You have a telephone job

interview with a local company and they are going to call you at home.

Attire Choices:A. Your pajamas and fuzzy, pink bunny

slippers.B. The best suit you own, with a white

shirt and solid-color tie.C. Business casual, polo shirt and

casual slacks--the shirt should be short sleeved.

D. Your regular, everyday business attire as dictated by the company rules.

E. Shirt and tie, so you look professional but not too dressed-up

F. Wear a nice suit, just for the feel of being professional. SInce you won’t actually be seen, the colors don’t matter, but you have to “feel” professional.

Proactive or Reactive?Kate and Juliet have been best friends for several years. One

morning when they are riding the bus to school, Kate is excited to tell Juliet about her birthday presents from the night before. Juliet acts happy for Kate and the two spend the bus ride talking about Kate’s birthday presents. Later that same day, Kate overhears Juliet telling one of their other friends about how rude Kate was for “bragging” about her birthday presents during the entire bus ride.

During the bus ride home, Kate apoligizes to Juliet for spending the bus ride that morning talking about her new things without letting Juliet know she overheard her earlier. Kate then asks Juliet what she wants to talk about on the way home.

Was Kate proactive or reactive? How can you tell?

Proactive or Reactive?Best friends Jack and John are on the school basketball team.

One day at practice, all of the other players come up to Jack and tell him they heard that he doesn’t like any of them. Jack tells them he wants to be friends with them and has never said anything bad about them. The other players tell him what John told them, that Jack didn’t like any of them.

Jack is angry at John for spreading a rumor about him. He decides he is going to get back at John by spreading a mean rumor about him.

Was Jack proactive or reactive? How can you tell?

Handling a Difficult SituationJohn works in a cubicle between Claire and Kate, who are best friends. Whenever Claire or Kate wants to say something to the other, instead of getting up and going to the other person’s cubicle, they raise their voice and talk back and forth from their own cubicles. One day while they were talking back and forth, John became frustrated because he couldn’t concentrate on his work. He stood up and said, “You two need to shut up because some people are trying to work.”

What should John have done differetnly?

Handling a Difficult SituationRichard leaves his cell phone on his desk during the day. He keeps the ring tone volume turned up all the way so he can hear it ring if he is away from his desk. One day he left it on his desk while he went to lunch. Jacob is in the cubicle next to Richard, and every few minutes when Richard was at lunch, his cell phone rang and Jacob had to listen to the ringtone play over and over because Richard wasn’t there to answer it. Finally, Jacob had enough, and he walked over to Richard’s desk and took the battery out of the cell phone.

What should Jacob have done differently?