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With two decades as an HR specialist, Leigh Henderson has witnessed numerous employee blunders in the workplace.
She stresses that developing a rapport with your supervisor is essential for advancing in your career.
Successful communication and having supporters at work are crucial for steering clear of problems.

This essay, presented as told by Leigh Henderson, features an interview with the 42-year-old CEO. HRManifesto located in San Antonio. It has been shortened and clarified.

I spent close to two decades working as an HR executive, aiding several Fortune 100 companies prior to launching my online platform, HRManifesto, along with the podcast titled "HR Besties."

I've witnessed individuals face issues at their jobs through different means, such as engaging in romantic encounters in the workplace. starting affairs , or relying on a "work bestie" who’s divulging your confidences to your supervisor.

Such occurrences are infrequent, yet they typically happen most often. running into issues at your job involves these three mistakes.

1. Not buildi ng a relationship with your manager

A common problem that frequently leads to difficulties for individuals is failing to prioritize their tasks. relationship with their manager . I've seen it repeatedly: Managers and employees just couldn't get along, so the employee wanted to avoid the manager altogether.

Your supervisor plays a crucial role in deciding who gets promoted. performance-improvement plans , endings, incentives, performance raises, and additional elements. Failing to invest effort in that connection might result in problems.

I've had managers approach me stating, "This staff member isn’t right for us." When pressed further about their concerns, they would explain, " "He appears not to enjoy my company," I think this reflects more on the leader; however, not every leader is effective. On your part, you should strive to do as much as possible.

A method to strengthen your connection with your supervisor is to engage in a "getting-to-know-you" discussion. During this talk, feel free to inquire about professional matters such as their preferred communication style. Additionally, use this opportunity to express your own likes and dislikes regarding how you prefer to communicate. Furthermore, should your boss not possess a weekly one-on-one Meeting with you, attempt to arrange one.

Inform your manager that you want to remain connected so they can grasp what you’re involved in and are guiding you correctly. This way, you’ll have the chance to receive crucial company updates from them and confirm that you’re moving in the proper direction.

2. Failing to communicate effectively or misunderstanding each other

Individuals frequently find themselves in hot water due to inappropriate remarks made at their workplace. I've witnessed instances where someone has sworn at another colleague via email, leaving behind a trail that one would prefer not to maintain.

I once collaborated with someone who included "FU" in the email subject lines. It took me some time to understand that this was actually meant as an abbreviation for "follow-up," not realizing initially since they didn’t use slashes between the letters. Without proper clarification, others might think you’re disrespectful or unprofessional, which could lead to problems if you’re not cautious enough.

If you recognize that you struggle with conveying certain messages effectively, inform your colleagues accordingly by stating something along these lines: "I find it difficult to handle formalities through digital means, so kindly avoid taking offense." Although I don’t think constant preliminary chitchat is required for each engagement, when interacting via digital platforms, I would suggest initiating with a greeting before asking for assistance.

3. Isolating yourself from the team

You want to create allies in the workplace — individuals capable of safeguarding your reputation in spaces where you're not present. This task becomes more challenging when you isolate yourself from the team or demonstrate little interest in working together with others.

Even if you excel in your role, without recognition from others, it becomes challenging for someone to advocate on your behalf. You could overlook crucial details, struggle to form connections, and appear hard to collaborate with. Such circumstances might jeopardize your position and impede your opportunities for advancement.

Participate actively in meetings, voice your thoughts freely, and propose potential resolutions. Additionally, take brief breaks in the lounge area and make an effort to converse with several colleagues each day. Should you be working from home, consider scheduling individual calls with your team members similar to how you would meet with your supervisor.

Building connections with colleagues who help ground you is beneficial for both your mental health and overall wellbeing. However, if a team member does not genuinely care about your interests, it would be wise not to share too much personal information; still, aim to maintain some level of connection and ensure the interaction remains neutral.

Keep an eye on who you can rely on at your job, safeguard yourself, and maintain good communication.