Let’s be honest—most guys don’t set out to be “that guy” at work.
But sometimes, without even realizing it, little habits can quietly chip away at your professional image.
From loud phone calls in meetings to casual rants about politics by the coffee machine—or in the group chat—what might seem harmless could be quietly damaging your reputation.
That’s why I’ve put together this practical guide: 33 common unprofessional habits every man should be aware of in the office. No fluff, no corporate jargon—just real-world examples of what not to do and simple tips to fix them.
As a bonus:
You can download a free PDF cheat sheet with all 33 habits neatly organized, so you’ll always know how to show up like a true professional.
1. Inappropriate Topics: Gender, Race, Religion & Politics
Chiming in with controversial opinions on sensitive topics like gender, race, religion, or politics during casual office chats is risky.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It can easily offend, alienate, or escalate into heated debates that damage workplace harmony.
Tip: Keep sensitive opinions out of casual work conversations. Respect different backgrounds and perspectives.
2. Poor Personal Hygiene
Bad breath, body odor, or showing up with an unkempt appearance impacts more than just you.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It’s unpleasant for colleagues and signals a lack of self-awareness and care.
Tip: Maintain basic hygiene routines. Clean clothes, fresh breath, and deodorant are non-negotiable in professional spaces.
3. Being Rude, Hostile, or Starting Conflicts
Constantly arguing, raising your voice, or being openly dismissive to coworkers shows poor emotional control.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It creates a toxic work environment and damages your professional reputation.
Tip: Stay calm, respectful, and solution-oriented. Disagreements should be handled with tact and professionalism.
4. Inappropriate Jokes & Comments
A little humor is fine. But crude jokes, gossip, or “edgy” comments? That’s playing with fire.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It creates discomfort, risks HR issues, and can tarnish your reputation.
Tip: Stick to safe, inclusive humor. If in doubt, leave it out.
5. Gossiping About Colleagues
Adding fuel to rumors or bad-mouthing coworkers behind their backs is poison for team culture.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It builds mistrust and reflects more on your character than the person you’re gossiping about.
Tip: Focus on positive interactions. Build up your colleagues, don’t tear them down.
6. Answering Calls During Meetings
Taking a phone call mid-meeting—without excusing yourself—is like shouting “My time matters more than yours.”
Why it’s unprofessional:
It’s disruptive, disrespectful, and breaks the flow of conversation. You’re showing poor boundaries and a lack of focus.
Tip: Silence your phone before meetings. If something urgent comes up, step out quietly and apologize after.
7. Talking Over People in Meetings
You’re enthusiastic—great! But constantly interrupting others makes you look like a self-centered steamroller.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It shows poor listening skills and disrespects colleagues’ contributions.
Tip: Let others finish their thoughts. Your input will be better received when you listen first.
8. Oversharing Personal Drama
Venting occasionally is human. Turning every coffee break into a therapy session? Exhausting.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It blurs personal-professional boundaries and can wear down team morale.
Tip: Keep personal chats light. Save heavy topics for trusted friends outside of work.
9. Being Chronically Late (And Not Caring)
Regularly showing up late sends a clear message: “My time is more valuable than yours.”
Why it’s unprofessional:
It shows poor time management and disrespects team schedules.
Tip: Aim to arrive 5-10 minutes early. Reliability builds trust.
10. Dressing Like It’s Laundry Day
Work attire doesn’t have to be formal, but looking like you just rolled out of bed is not the move.
Why it’s unprofessional:
Appearance influences perception. Sloppy dressing can make you seem careless.
Tip: Stick to clean, well-fitted clothes appropriate to your office culture. Grooming matters, too.
11. Chewing Loudly & Bringing Smelly Food
Lunch is sacred, but no one wants to smell your reheated fish or hear your open-mouth chewing symphony.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It invades others’ personal space and creates unnecessary distractions.
Tip: Be mindful of your food choices and table manners in shared spaces.
12. Playing Music Through Speakers at Your Desk
Your taste in music is personal. Forcing it on your coworkers? Not so professional.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It invades the shared space and breaks concentration. Open offices are already noisy enough.
Tip: Always use headphones. Better yet, noise-cancelling ones if you like it loud.
13. Hovering Over Coworkers’ Desks Uninvited
Dropping by for a quick chat is fine. Looming over someone while they’re clearly busy? Not so much.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It disrupts focus and feels intrusive, especially in open workspaces.
Tip: Send a quick message before approaching. Respect personal space.
14. Not Taking Responsibility for Mistakes
Mistakes happen. Blaming others or making excuses? That’s what’s remembered.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It shows a lack of accountability and weakens trust.
Tip: Own your mistakes, apologize, and focus on solutions. That’s leadership material.
15. Ignoring Work Messages & Emails
Not responding to messages for days isn’t mysterious—it’s careless.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It slows down teamwork and signals unreliability.
Tip: Check in regularly. Even a simple “Got it, working on it” keeps the flow moving.
16. Multitasking During Virtual Meetings (Camera Off, Checked Out)
We’ve all seen it—the guy clearly answering emails or scrolling social media with his camera off.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It shows disengagement and lack of respect for the team’s time and effort.
Tip: Be present. Stay off emails and Slack during calls. Camera on, attention in.
17. Constantly Complaining About Workload
We all get busy. But being the office complainer won’t earn you sympathy—it’ll get you avoided.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It drags down morale and makes you seem unable to handle pressure.
Tip: Vent in moderation. Focus on solutions and what you can control.
18. Flexing Personal Wealth or Status
Bragging about your car, salary, or luxury purchases might impress some—but it usually backfires.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It creates unnecessary competition and alienates coworkers.
Tip: Stay humble. Let your work speak louder than your wallet.
19. Overusing Company Resources for Personal Use
Using the office printer for 300-page personal documents or streaming sports all day? Not a good look.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It’s a misuse of company resources and shows poor judgment.
Tip: Keep personal use minimal and respectful. Know where the line is.
20. Unnecessary “Reply All” Emails
Not every email needs to go to the entire company. Use with caution.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It clogs inboxes and makes you seem unaware of email etiquette.
Tip: Reply directly to the sender unless group visibility is necessary.
21. Overusing Buzzwords to Sound Smart
Saying “synergize scalable solutions” might sound impressive to you—but it’s often empty jargon.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It makes communication less clear and can come off as pretentious.
Tip: Speak plainly. Clarity is king.
22. Overly Casual Greetings (Or Ignoring Them)
A sloppy “Yo” or ignoring a “Good morning” might fly with your buddies—not so much in a professional setting.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It comes off as dismissive and shows poor interpersonal skills.
Tip: A simple “Good morning” with eye contact goes a long way.
23. Using Office Equipment as Your Personal Toolbox
Borrowing office supplies for home projects (or worse, taking them home permanently) is tacky.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It’s disrespectful to shared resources and erodes trust.
Tip: Need supplies? Ask. Don’t assume.
24. Being Glued to Your Phone in the Breakroom
Taking a breather is fine. But being that guy who never acknowledges coworkers because you’re face-down in your phone? Not a good look.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It makes you seem disengaged and uninterested in team culture.
Tip: Put the phone down. Say hello. Small talk builds big relationships.
25. Constantly “One-Upping” Colleagues’ Stories
If someone shares a win or an experience, don’t immediately respond with how yours was bigger or better.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It’s self-centered and kills team camaraderie.
Tip: Celebrate others’ wins. Listening > competing.
26. Trying Too Hard to Be “The Funny Guy”
Humor is a gift. But forcing jokes constantly—even at inappropriate times—can hurt your credibility.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It makes you seem like you’re not serious about your work.
Tip: Let humor flow naturally. Read the room.
27. Swearing Like a Sailor (Even Casually)
Dropping F-bombs in casual office chats might feel “authentic,” but it doesn’t make you sound professional.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It’s jarring, and not everyone finds it acceptable—even in relaxed environments.
Tip: Save the sailor talk for after-hours with close friends.
28. Sending Passive-Aggressive Emails (“Per My Last Email…”)
We get it—you’re annoyed. But that snarky tone can escalate conflicts unnecessarily.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It creates tension and damages team dynamics.
Tip: Stay professional, even when frustrated. Solve problems, don’t fuel them.
29. Dominating Brainstorming Sessions
A brainstorming session is for everyone’s ideas, not just an opportunity for you to monologue.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It stifles team creativity and shows poor collaboration skills.
Tip: Share your input, then pause. Invite quieter colleagues to contribute.
30. Hijacking Slack Channels with Off-Topic Rants
Slack (or Teams) is for communication—not for your daily monologue about traffic, sports, or personal hot takes.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It clogs communication channels and wastes time.
Tip: Keep chats relevant. Use dedicated “random” channels for casual talk.
31. Ignoring Feedback (Especially from Peers)
Brushing off constructive criticism with “that’s just how I am” doesn’t make you look confident—it makes you look difficult.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It shows you’re not coachable, which limits your growth and annoys your team.
Tip: Listen with an open mind. Feedback helps you improve—even if it stings at first.
32. Overusing Company Wi-Fi for Personal Streaming
Streaming sports events or personal content during work hours clogs bandwidth and shows poor priorities.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It affects work efficiency and reflects a lack of focus.
Tip: Keep personal entertainment for breaks or after hours.
33. Publicly Reacting Defensively to Feedback
Getting defensive when receiving feedback—especially in front of others—shows poor emotional control.
Why it’s unprofessional:
It creates tension and shows immaturity.
Tip: Pause. Breathe. Take feedback as a growth opportunity.
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