The Proper Do's and Don'ts in the WorkPlace

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As we close out the month and the series Proper Mountain Women in the WorkPlace, I have to end with some tips and advice for working in an office. Now keep in mind that I am no Dale Carnegie, I don't pretend to know everything, or even be good at it... but despite me coming to work late every morning (which is the most UN-proper mountain woman thing about me), people seem to enjoy working with me, and my former bosses all say that they would hire me back. When one boss told me he wished he could find and hire ten more like me, I was flattered, but also thought it was odd... I feel like I am a pretty average employee... but you would be surprised at how many people come to work, and then try to avoid working, or get wrapped up in drama. Don't be one of those people!

My advice for anyone who wants to stand out among their coworkers is to just do your work. It's crazy and kinda sad, but if you do what is assigned to you, thoroughly and without complaint, you become a valuable employee and a shining star!

So, here is my list for Proper Mountain Women working in an office... all the Do's and Don'ts to help make you a trustworthy, drama-free, and likable employee:

PROPER MOUNTAIN WOMEN DON'TS:

• She does NOT wear open toed sandals in the office, no matter what the office dress code is, it's unprofessional.
• She does NOT wear short skirts, EVER.
• She does NOT wear low cut blouses, and anything that is sexy and distracting. It makes you look like a floozy no matter how smart you are.
• She does NOT wear sleeveless tops, I don't care if Michelle Obama does, they look out of place in the every day attire.
• If she is married, she does NOT go to lunch alone with another man, EVER.
• If she is single, she does NOT go to lunch alone with a married man, EVER.
• She does NOT flirt with the men in the office, it's inappropriate, just keep yourself under control. Everyone knows you are flirting.
• She does NOT throw away smelly food at her desk. 
• She does NOT interrupt people, especially in meetings. The biggest reason people don't like a certain coworker is because they are a know-it-all. 
• She does NOT give people hugs.
• She does NOT spread rumors about coworkers.
• She does NOT give in to gossip, and she is NOT a busy body.
• She does NOT try and sell things to her fellow coworkers.
• She does NOT hover around when people are busy talking to someone else, or are on the phone, she leaves a note or tries again later.

PROPER MOUNTAIN WOMEN DO'S:

• She DOES keep her desk tidy. If you aren't sure how tidy it should be, use your bosses desk as a reference.
• She DOES keep a hard copy of all her billable hours and tasks she works on, and updates it every day. I keep mine in a notebook by my computer, and it has come in handy many times.
• She DOES write notes to herself to read in the morning before leaving for the day of things to work on, that way when she arrives the next morning, she can quickly remember where she left off.
• She DOES leave the both the bathroom and break room cleaner than she found them. When the donuts are gone and the empty box is sitting on the break room counter... throw it away and wipe off the counter. It takes 3 seconds and people will think you are an angel.
• She DOES get to know the other women in the office and is not threatened by them. You can learn a lot from the older women in the office, they are smart, they have interesting hobbies, and they know the ropes.
• She DOES make new employees feel welcome and helps them feel comfortable.
• She DOES take responsibility for things going wrong and never passes the blame.
• She DOES give her boss the benefit of the doubt.
• She DOES have her cell phone on silent while at her desk.

And there you have it... follow this advice and you are golden. If I have missed any I will add them later, and if you have any suggestions of what should be added, feel free to comment!

Proper Perfume Etiquette at Work

(proper mountain women are not office hussies)

Lets discuss an important subject for women in the workplace, the etiquette of perfume.

In my current workplace there is a man who DOUSES himself in cologne every day, and you can smell him when he walks near your desk. At another office I worked at, I used to sit down with field surveyors and go over their work on the computer, one individual who chewed tobacco had the foulest breath I have ever smelt in my entire life. As I sat with him I tried to keep my hand over my nose and mouth, trying to look normal, while I tried not to dry heave as he explained utility lines with me.

At work a proper mountain woman smells good. You do not want a strong fragrance that alerts people you just walked by, or that you can smell two cubicles over... and you don't want to offend or overpower someone if you have to sit at their desk to work on something.

The perfect balance would be something fresh and clean smelling, that leaves a small, yet pleasant, impression when you stand close to someone. Save your sexy sensual scents for when you are on a date, they have no place in the workplace.

I asked my two favorite perfume experts, Andie and Jillyn, what fragrance a proper mountain woman would wear to work, here they are...

 

Andie said to go with Marc Jacob's Dot or True Religion's Hippie Chic, because both are super light, energetic, and have fruity vibes with earthy/nature tones.... perfect for a proper mountain woman. Do not go strong on these, keep it light and don't reapply during the day.

Jillyn said she would actually prefer an essential oil body mist over a perfume in the workplace, because it's a natural smell and not over powering. She suggested Chakras from Aveda, she says it balances your soul while making you smell fresh to death!


I think perfume is an interesting subject, here are some articles on the subject of fragrances in the workplace... maybe you'll find them as fascinating as I do:
Wear it 9 to 5: Office-Appropriate Perfume
Are You Wearing Too Much Perfume
5 Perfumes to Wear to the Office

Peace and pine trees,

Whitney