Be nice. Everywhere.

CNN has this interesting little piece on behaviors in the workplace to avoid. While they do address tendencies sometimes seen in the office environment, they’re really extensions of cultural behavior in general. And good reminders of how to avoid….being obnoxious.

A few pointers…

Co-workers have an unwritten rule of solidarity. Employees and the boss aren’t in a battle with each other, but colleagues like to think that they support each other and are on the same team where everyone looks out for each other.

Don’t betray your colleagues to your boss to score points. Which extends to ‘be charitable and prudent’ in all your conversations and relationships.

Sometimes the glass is half full. Pragmatism can keep everyone in check when they’re too busy patting themselves on the back for a foolproof idea, but your response to every proposed idea or development shouldn’t be gloom and doom. A constant chorus of “Oooh, no, that won’t work” is annoying and kills morale…If your contribution to every conversation is going to be a negative one, you’ll be excluded from them.

Speaks for itself.

Just because something happened to you doesn’t make it more important than what’s happening in other people’s lives.

You need to have control of your emotions and a grasp on what requires immediate attention (and what doesn’t) whether you’re working behind a fast-food counter or teaching a classroom full of children.

Or just talking with people in general. I remember hearing a high-school teacher remind his students “It’s not all about you.” That works for all of us.

Self-promotion is often a good way to stay visible and remind executives that you’re a valuable contributor, but it should be used sparingly. Regardless of the organization and the industry, everyone is working toward a common goal — and you are not that goal. Work hard and let the results speak for themselves.

People notice excellence. And it elevates everyone. Everywhere.