Etiquette Expert Shares his Eight Essential Tips for Office Harmony: ‘Stop Gossiping, Don’t Stalk Your Boss, and Make a Killer First Impression'’

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Office Freedom, Grant Harrold reveals:

1. Nail the First Three Seconds

“On your first day at a new job, you must behave as politely as possible. You have up to three seconds to make a good first impression. You must look people in the eye when having conversations with them and have a good handshake, as well as smile and be friendly. It shows you’re excited to be there and keen to get started. Also, don’t be afraid to ask some questions.

“In terms of what you should wear, it should always be the case of overdressing rather than underdressing. Even if it is casual, I would stick to dressing smart during the first few weeks of a new job. I would go for a smart shirt and a pair of trousers if people decide to dress on the more casual side. It means you will be making a good impression.”

2. Stop the Office Gossip – It’s a Career Killer

“When you work in an office, you develop relationships with your teammates. You voice things, talk about your problems - whether they are work-related or personal matters. It can be difficult to not discuss things when something is going wrong and you want to be able to speak about things that are going on. I think you need to use your discretion. You need to work out who you can speak to about these things and who you can trust. There is no harm in going to them for advice, but don’t overdo it. The worst thing is gossiping in the workplace. Talk about your own business, but don’t go around talking about what other people are going through. We should never gossip at work. In the case of big problems, speaking to your boss might make it a lot easier and they might be able to help.”

3. ‘Don’t introduce yourself to every person in the room, but make yourself known’

“I wouldn’t go around the room shaking hands with every single person to ask what they do and where they’re from. But I would make myself known to those whom I would be working closely with. If people come up to you throughout the day, definitely have those conversations where you can introduce yourself when you’re ready. Remember to smile, have good eye contact and be polite. Don’t forget to listen when you’re asking their name and what they do in the company. Don’t overtalk or take over in the conversation either. Let them lead the way.”

4. ‘You should never arrive late to the office - make sure you’re early or on time’

“You should not arrive late to an office, ever. It’s extremely important to arrive early five or ten minutes before or dead on time. Being late doesn’t give a great impression about who you are as an employee. If you are running late, you must let your team know in advance when possible. When you arrive, you must apologise correctly.”

5. ‘Offer your colleagues a hot drink, but don’t become the tea lady!’

“Making a cup of tea for your colleagues is always a nice thing to do, but always have a limit on the number of people. It can generally take a lot of time and you don’t want to become the tea lady or man. Maybe offer it to the colleagues who you are sitting next to, but don’t tire yourself out by offering it to the whole room. Also, if you got their order wrong, fix it yourself, don’t ask them for help to fix it for you.”

6. ‘Stay at home if you feel unwell - you don’t want to spread anything nasty’

“After Covid, people are being extra wary now, so it is best to stay at home as it can be unpleasant for people you’ll be working with. If it’s a light cold, with a few sniffles, you’re fine to come in. If it’s a chesty, lingering cough, then you need to stay at home. It purely depends on how serious it is. If you think it would be quite distracting for your colleagues, I would refrain from coming into the office. You don’t want to be spreading anything nasty around.”

7. ‘Don’t contact colleagues when they’re off work - you need to respect their time off’

“It depends on why they’re off work. If you need to contact them, go ahead. But if they’re on holiday, and it isn’t urgent, please don’t contact them. People should respect their time off, as you would like the same in return. Unless they say, ‘feel free to contact me with any issues,’ you should stay clear. You should always make it known when you won’t be contactable by doing an out of office email.”

8. ‘Only add your colleagues on social media if you’re certain they’re your friends’

“It’s a personal thing. I know lots of people who want their work colleagues as friends on social media. It’s a personal choice. But whatever you do, don’t stalk them online. They’re as entitled to have social media as you are. If you want to know what they’re doing at the weekend, just ask them in conversation. There is no need to stalk. It depends on how close you are. If you consider them a friend, definitely add them, but don’t do it for the sake of it as it can be embarrassing if they don’t reciprocate it.”