Behave like a professional (please!)

We all know 'that person'.  The one who schedules the meeting.  Then shows up 12 minutes late.  The one who pays more attention to their phone than to your meeting.  The one who never responds to your emails.  The one who shows up for work sick because they are 'so dedicated'.  Do you feel the tickle in your throat yet?

It's not because you are getting their cold.  Nope, it's because their bad etiquette is oozing into your work day and it's really annoying.  Not to mention unprofessional. Bad etiquette not only makes you look bad, but it affects productivity because others spend time fuming over your bad habits and how much they don't want to work with you.  Even worse, it fails to build trust between the other areas in the business that is critical to our success.

And trust me, Infosec professionals, this is rap that we don't need.  After all, we are already the harbingers of doom with our silly audits, compliance requirements and risk mitigation plans.  You don't need to be non-responsive to emails or cough on somebody too.

However, this is an easy fix, and quite frankly if you don't help your peer with this problem, then you are just another big part of the problem.  Tell that person they have poor etiquette and to quit doing what they are doing.  And then politely point them to this article that has great pointers:

• Stay at home when you’re sick.
• Always show up on time for meetings. If you’re usually running late, try scheduling meetings in 45 minute increments to allow enough time to get to your next one.
• Keep meetings to the scheduled amount of time. Don’t force the next group to stand in the hallway outside the conference room waiting for you and your group to finish.
• Put your cell phone on vibrate mode to prevent disturbing others.
• Pay attention during meetings and avoid multi-tasking, such as scrolling through emails on your smart phone or computer.
• Don’t hold meetings in your cubicle and distract those sitting close nearby. For meetings with three or more people, go to a conference room or a break area.
• Eat lunch in the cafeteria or break room. Avoid eating smelly food at your desk.
• Be aware of how loud you speak on the telephone if you work in a cubicle environment.
• Avoid wearing perfume or cologne at work.
• Ladies – don’t wear revealing clothing. Let others see your skills, not private body parts.
• Respect your co-worker’s property (and company property).
• Don’t take things from others without asking. Refrigerator lunch food stealers – that also means you!
• Don’t yell and scream at others. Compassion and empathy will serve you much better to earn respect.

And one more crucial one from me.  As much as I don't like this, email is a critical method of communication in business today.  Be. Responsive.  Even if it's a: working on this! short response, that is better than dead air.

Folks, we have an obligation to ourselves and our profession to be better.  If someone tells you to quit slouching, take that as constructive and do something about it.  We all benefit when you do!!