Ten Behaviors that Will Piss Off Your Boss

If you want a promotion or a raise, or if you just want to hang onto you job, then now is the time to put your best foot forward and stay clear of these ten things that can really tick your boss off.

Missed Deadlines. Nothing bugs a boss more than when you mismanage your time and fail to complete your projects by the due date. It shows a total lack of regard for anyone else who might be involved with the project and sends the message that you are not dependable. A better move would be to prioritize your workload and if you see you will not be able to meet your deadline, tell those who need to know and renegotiate where necessary. Better yet: complete your work ahead of schedule.

Gossip. Talking about others behind their backs, perpetuating or even starting rumors, and backstabbing can all get you in trouble quicker than you can blink. Don't get sucked into thinking you're part of the in-crowd by behaving this way. Your boss wants a professional with integrity. You say the wrong thing to the wrong person and your career could go up in flames like a California forest fire.

Abuse of Time Off. Too many employees whine when they feel as if their supervisors are treating them like children. Then they turn around and take long lunch and break periods, call in sick on Mondays or Fridays, or come in late and leave early. This kind of behavior only works against you. Instead, if you want to move your career ahead, you need to show your boss you are willing to work harder and put in extra time.

Clueless. When you work in complete denial of your short-comings (even after your boss has told you about them), never consider how what you do impacts others and fail to "think outside the box" when it comes to how your work gets done, you are clueless. It is vital that you listen to what is going on around you. That means taking into consideration any advice passed your way (whether you choose to use it or not) and thinking about your overall impact on your team, the department, the company, and your job. Consider how you can improve operations by eliminating wasted processes and improving methods. That will impress your boss.

Troublemaker. Not getting along with team mates is the ultimate taboo. That doesn't mean you have to socialize or bring them home to meet the family. It just means that you have to be cooperative and pleasant to be around. Treat others the way you would like to be treated, otherwise your boss will think twice about your ability to play well with others.

Act Like a Know-it-All. Yeah, you might just have a better way of doing something or know a bit of trivia about some obscure topic, but if everything that comes out of your mouth is meant to make you sound brighter and better, you will quickly find yourself working alone. Even your boss won't want to be around you. It's okay to share your ideas, just be mindful of how you deliver the message.

Hog the Credit. Once again, it all comes down to teamwork. When a group of people work together toward the success of a project, they all share in that success equally. If you try and pass off someone else's work as your own or grab kudos due to everyone, your boss and your team mates will catch on quickly.

Expect More, Give Less. You know that old saying, "less is more?" Well, it's not when it comes to hard work. Don't fool yourself into believing that your boss owes you something. If he's a quality leader, he'll recognize you in time. Don't slip into the mindset that you're not going to work hard until you get a raise or recognition. Realize you won't get anything until you earn it.

Show Apathy. This is an off-shoot of the previous one, but in this case it's not that you expect more, it's just that you don't seem interested in your work at all. If you've grown tired of what you're doing, it might be time to move on. Even if you think you're hiding your feelings, chances are you're not. If you're attitude is just "eight and skate", what's your boss's incentive to help further your career?

Don't Have His Back. This is probably one of the biggest ways to get on the bad side of your supervisor. Bosses hate surprises, so you need to keep him informed about what you're doing, any decisions you've made, and things that might suddenly fall in his lap without notice. And if you are plotting his overthrow, you better get it done before he puts you out on your ear. Remember: if you've got his back, he'll most likely have yours.

At the end of the day before you assume that your boss is the reason that you can't get ahead or were fired, consider what kind of message your behavior might be sending. Then make appropriate adjustments and get yourself back on track.

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