Everybody makes mistakes. Nobody's perfect. Everyone deserves a second chance.

When we apply such cliches to our work, we usually think of big, obvious mistakes: missing a major deadline; having a few too many at the company party; calling your boss an idiotic, smelly troglodyte (to his face).

But it's the smaller, less noticeable mistakes that can really cost us, here are some of the more common ones:

Not adapting to the company culture.
The bottom line is that it's work, and you are being paid to move business forward. In other words, when you get to work, check your own agenda at the door, and make sure what the leadership wants is your first priority. This applies to many things: your attitude, how you dress, your punctuality. Watch how things are done and either do what it takes to fit, or suggest a new way of doing things.

Assuming hard work is enough.

There's little worth in working hard if no one knows it but you. Letting co-workers and bosses know what you're working on isn't bragging, it's making yourself visible and opening up for possible collaborative efforts.

Relying too much on consensus or permission.

You may think you're being smart by checking with your boss on every decision, but you might be making yourself look insecure or inexperienced. Ask your boss what kinds of things he or she expects you to call the shots on yourself.

Not projecting a positive attitude.

Gossiping to co-workers, about work or otherwise, may seem harmless, but can hurt you in the long run. Same goes for bad-mouthing your boss. You never know where alliances run. Keep personal matters to yourself.

Putting yourself above menial tasks

Don't be too quick to bypass the empty coffee pot or the paper-jammed copier. Today's streamlined organisations value individuals who can contribute wherever they're needed and look beyond their own work functions to help move the business of the organization forward.

Although none of the above mistakes alone are likely to get you fired, the following two just might.

One of the most 'deadly' office mistakes is using company resources for personal use. The most obvious scenario is the pocketed Home PC supplies, but there are also less classic examples that hold greater ramifications: unauthorised personal use of computers, internet services, e-mail and company telephone lines. This ‘conversion’ of company assets for personal use, and theft of services can result in serious charges.

Also of concern to companies is the sharing of corporate secrets.

That casual e-mail or phone call from your desk to your best friend, talking about the frustration with the project you are working on, might provide the corporate eavesdropper with enough clues to breach your company's proprietary security and give your competition the leading edge on a hot project.

You don't have to be paranoid at the office, but do think twice about what you do and how you appear to those around you. Everyone may deserve a second chance in life or love, but that doesn't always apply to the office.

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