The following five things should never be said to a co-worker. Have you made one or more of these communication faux pas?
Who’s texting you
You are in a meeting and your co-worker’s cell phone starts buzzing. He grabs it casually and glances at the text. You blurt out, “Who’s texting you?” Putting a co-worker on the spot like that is a sure-fire way to get them to resent you. If you want to draw attention to the action without embarrassing the co-worker, try saying, “Is everything okay? Is the text important?” Not only, will he politely get the point to shut it off, but if it is important, he’ll tell you and you’ll look like a nice person for inquiring.
Why are you so dressed up today?
Your office is business causal, but your co-worker shows up in a suit. You and everyone else are thinking, “job interview”. But, there are lots of reasons for getting dressed up. Even if you know she is going on an interview, you shouldn’t put her on the spot about it. It’s better to leave the fashion commentary to the pros.
What did you think of that meeting?
Your boss just conducted a horrible meeting. It was boring, contradictory, and in your opinion, a complete waste of time. It means you are seeking negativity and are opening yourself up for a discussion that will ultimately lead to some boss trash-talking.
Will you cover for me?
Asking co-worker to help you lie to your boss is recipe for disaster. For starters, you are putting him in an uncomfortable situation. While he may agree to assists you, rest assured it leaves serious doubts in his mind about you and your ability to be honest.
Can you tell the boss I’m better for the job than…
Getting a recommendation for the job is one thing, but asking a co-worker to criticize another co-worker so you look better implies you have doubts about your professional credibility. — Agencies
