The butterfly effect at the office

Think before you speak

Usually in a group, we tend to direct our jokes at specific people. While you were backbiting, you were surrounded by other backbiters. When the targeted person gets wind of it, he may or not take it normally. Based on the extent to which it is hurting the person's ego, the greater the impact will be against you, whether it's today or tomorrow.

Make commitments you can keep

 If you promise your employee that you'll give him a pay raise or promotion or anything else within a specified time, then make sure you are able to keep the commitment. If you fail, the employee may get dissatisfied, leave the company, spread negative word-of-mouth, and thereby pollute the culture and make others dissatisfied by creating fear of future career prospect. Employees run the same risk of losing their goodwill if they can't meet deadlines or do a colleague a favour they promised.

The blues

When you are in bad mood, it is wise to avoid debates with colleagues or your boss since you might say something that's irrational or offensive. Bad blood sticks; don't become the victim of revenge.

Same goes when you're talking to customers or clients. Once a customer feels offended with your tone or approach, consider your relationship damaged.

Give others their due credit

Are you taking full credit of your subordinates' work? Well it may help you in the short-run with the higher-ups, but the person who worked for you will lose respect towards you and will show reluctance when doing the next job. This is because instead of motivating him, you prioritised your personal gain. Consequently, news of this will spread throughout the lower ranks.

Don't blame others for your mistakes

Utilising your power or position to shift the burden of blame can have serious consequences. You will be initiating a toxic game of whodunit within the organisation. One day you may find yourself carrying someone else's mistake on your shoulders.