Take Work More Seriously by Hanging Out With the Right Crowd
If you are trying to move up the career ladder, you want to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, the people you spend time with at work can negatively affect this.
It may not be high school, but there are still gangs at work. Some can make you look good, while others can make you look really bad. Andrew Griffiths of Inc. recommends avoiding certain groups of people:
A surefire way to make those who matter less think of you is to be one of the gossips. As much as it can make you feel like a valuable member of the group, you will not do yourself any favors … Just as we are judged by our appearance, we are also judged by the peer group we are associated with. If you want to be taken seriously, take a look around. Are the people in your peer group someone that others take seriously?
If you feel stuck and keep wondering why you keep getting turned down on projects or promotions, it might be worth considering the crowd you work with. This does not mean that you cannot communicate with colleagues outside of work, but when you are at work, it is time to be a professional. If you associate with people who are not acting professionally, it can affect you no matter how you conduct yourself personally. Of course, different workplaces have different conditions, but knowing what is viewed negatively in your work culture can only be beneficial to you.