Be Taken Seriously In The Workplace

If you want your work to be respected and your ideas to be
accepted, then you must ensure that people take you seriously. You
already know that it takes hard work, honesty and integrity to get
ahead in your career, but for others to see you as a Jack Welch and not
a David Brent, there are specific actions which you must take. Here
they are.
1- Don't be a yes-man

Kiss-ups can be sniffed
out from across the office. The favors you may gain from nodding
robotically will be short-lived, empty and, ultimately, ungratifying.
If your gut disagrees with something, voice your views without fear.
But remember: Keep your arguments civil and measured, always respecting
the opinions of others.
2- Be well-spoken

Yes, some
bosses swear like mobsters and are still respected, but they possess a
unique strength of character that lets them get away with it -- don't
assume that you can. Keep your language clean and your sentences crisp.
Say what you need to say without rambling, and resist the urge to chime
in all the time.

This means that you shouldn't interrupt
people and you needn't voice your opinion about everything. Instead,
listen to others and consider their counsel. Let them finish their
thoughts and hear them out. You don't have to reply right away, so take
the time to think out your answers.
3- Be punctual

Make a
habit of keeping others waiting for you and you'll lose their respect.
After all, how can you be trusted with major projects if people can't
trust you to show up on time? By respecting the schedules of others,
you'll earn their respect in return.
4- Do your homework

Ignorance
is one of the professional world's least respectable traits -- if not
the worst. No man can be taken seriously if he doesn't know what he's
talking about. If you want your ideas to count, be better informed than
everyone else. Stay up to speed with current trends and never stop
learning.

Being prepared will help you in your proposals. Before
pitching an idea, know the exact message that you want to deliver.
Consider what you want others to think, what objections they might have
and how you can ease their minds. Collecting all your information and
knowledge beforehand will reinforce your pitches and presentations,
showing a serious, professional approach to business.
5- Be a worthy ambassador

When
you're sent somewhere on behalf of the company, you become its
ambassador. How many ambassadors will spill dirty secrets about their
countries just to get them off their chests? If you want your company
to look like the best, you have to look like the best. Speak
proudly and admirably about who you work for. If you need to badmouth,
that's what your drinking buddies are for.

6- Show results

Big talkers might make an impression at
first, but they only sustain it until they fail to show the goods. If
you believe in your abilities (which you should), then don't be afraid
to act on them. Take the initiative on what you feel is the right
course of action, then stick to it. Sometimes rules can be broken and
protocol can be sidestepped.

Follow every declaration with
real action. Better yet, promise little and deliver a lot, more than
you said you would. Those who go the extra mile on their own are rare,
highly admired and always respected.
7- Don't brag

You may have accomplished a lot, but wait before singing your own praises.
There's something to be said about a man who lets others discover his
merits on their own. Boast about your achievements and, at best, you'll
receive envy -- at worst, resentment.
8- Keep your cool

True
leaders show their mettle in times of great stress. There are those who
break down and despair, and thoses who stay focused and shift gears to
quickly find a solution. Whatever happens, don't explode or throw your
arms up in resignation. Keep your mind clear at the worst of times and
you'll be able to handle anything. There's nothing more respectable
than calm under fire.
9- Dress up, not down

Since
so much is predicated upon appearances, the quality of your dress will
play a large role in how others determine your quality as a man. Take
the usual dress code of your company and dress at the top of it. We're
talking crisp shirts, good trousers and shiny shoes -- minimum! Even if
your company tolerates shorts and sandals, hold yourself to a higher
standard. Don't overdress, though; you'll look pretentious and a tad
ridiculous.
10- Hold your liquor

Even at office Christmas parties,
where employees are encouraged to cut loose, you should watch your
drink count. Even if it's a nonprofessional event, your coworkers will
still remember if you grab the boss's wife and call her a plump turkey.
If you know you're no damn good when you're drunk, then cut yourself
off after a few drinks.
11- Keep your private life private

You're
at the office for work, not therapy. Talking about private matters
makes others uncomfortable and will shatter the serious image you want
to portray. Some topics that should not be discussed include:

Religion

Political views (don't presume that everyone shares your stance)

Relationship problems

Sex

Your weekend mischief with friends

However,
if you have personality clashes with coworkers or other interpersonal
tensions in the workplace, you should bring it up in a non-threatening,
controlled manner. Broach the subject in private with a superior or
with the person in question.
12- Don't flirt

Sexual harassment is
very real. What you think is an innocent remark can be interpreted as a
threatening gesture. If you absolutely have to flirt with a coworker,
save it for happy hour.

Don't even offer unsolicited
compliments on a coworker's appearance. Some may appreciate it, but you
can't know for sure. Play it safe, and keep all remarks professional.
being serious is serious business

You
can see how demonstrating particular traits will earn you more respect.
And more respect can lead to yielding more weight in the workplace. In
the end, earning respect is all about respecting others and staying
focused on doing a good job. Do so, and your reputation will take care
of itself.

Resources:
www.hindu.com
www.bankrate.com