It’s a well-known fact that your career will challenge you as an individual and strengthen you as a professional. Regardless of what your occupation may be, the ability to make a positive impression with the people you work with is an important aspect of your success.  

1. Gossiping with Co-workers: There’s a time and place to talk about your eventful weekend. Of course you’re going to build friendships with people the people you work with, but remember its even more admirable when you’re able to filter what you share and who you share it with. Avoid discussing other coworkers in conversations. Oh and this is a big one: Tailor the manner you speak to your coworkers based on your relationship with them. Some people you are more friendly with and can be more casual with. Others you can’t. Know the difference. 
2. Being on your phone. Taking a personal call is understandable, but taking the entire morning to check your text messages is not. Put your phone in a place that isn’t conveniently within reach. Schedule breaks in your day and allow yourself to use your phone during those controlled times. Turn your phone on silent to avoid the temptation of checking it. 
3. Working in an untidy space. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they present themselves — and their work space. While you’ve probably noticed the appearance of your coworkers’ desks, your mistake may be assuming that they aren’t making assumptions based on yours. Is your desk submerged under chocolate wrappers or decorated with photos of your cats? Those who walk by will look — and it’s up to you to decide on what they see. Take 5-10 minutes at the end of each day to clean up your desk 
4. Showing up late. I get it, life and traffic happens. Once in a blue moon, fine… making a habit of it – absolutely unprofessional. I always have a chuckle… radio presenters can never ever be late. My show begins at 9am – and Ewan Strydom takes over from me at 12… we cannot be one second later, let alone a minute late. If you have created a bad habit of being late… Know your habits and figure out how to work around them. Do everything you can the night before — to buy you more time in the morning. 
5. Making constant excuses. While work may be challenging, your reaction to the difficult time will be your key to success. Mistakes happen. We are all human.  The best way to handle them is to accept why they happened and make changes to stop them in the future.