Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Back in the day, when I was much younger and inexperienced in business, I often found myself on the defensive when someone disagreed with me. I would almost automatically say, “You’re not listening to me!” I finally realized that this knee-jerk reaction was a habit I needed to break; The other person usually listened but didn’t see things the way I wanted them to. I changed this bad habit by turning it into a question: “Why do you think this path is the best?” – which significantly changed the tone of the conversation.
Related: Are you considering owning a franchise? Start now to find your personalized franchise list that fits your lifestyle, interests and budget.
Negative habits mean negative performance
Acting without thinking, as I did in these situations, is the definition of habitual behavior. If the habit is negative, it can cause great harm to work performance, especially if you don’t recognize the damage you are doing because you are so used to engaging in this behavior. You may not even think it’s a habit. A few minutes of social media can’t hurt, right? Maybe not – until it turns into a few hours.
I never like to see someone do something without thinking about it, but the damage that bad habits do – to the person who uses them and to those they work with – is worse than just the fact that you are on them engage in routine actions. I have seen firsthand how bad habits negatively impact people. Wasted time leads to sloppy work at the last minute. Bad attitudes drag everyone down.
I’ve found that the best way to eliminate a bad habit is to replace it with something positive, like I did with my “You’re not listening” complaint. Asking the other person to explain their point of view shows respect, and replacing “That’s not you” with “Why?” turns a negative attack into a positive request. (And getting the other person to defend their opinion can also make them realize you were right after all!)
Of course, before you give up a bad habit, you must admit that you have developed one. Here are five bad habits that could be hurting your business and advice on how you can help yourself overcome them.
Related: Find out which brands have been on the Franchise 500 list the longest and earned a spot in our new Hall of Fame.
Waste your time on social media
This is almost a redundancy; Unless you’re your company’s social media manager, any time you spend on Facebook, Instagram, or other networks is a waste of time. The problem is that we often think we’re just “checking” these social networks – and then we’re still online and the day is already half over.
Break it: Set a time for social media consumption and stick to it; Set a timer if necessary. Turn off all notifications and stay offline in meetings. If you’re using Zoom, you may want to put your phone in another room so you don’t get distracted.
Related: How immigrating to the Bronx from Argentina at age 11 prepared her for life as a franchisee
Interrupt
It’s disrespectful and you can lose important input from the person you’re interrupting. The problem begins when we think about how we will respond to the speaker instead of listening to them and then responding.
Break it: Wait for the speaker to finish speaking and then give your opinion and response. Or you could try not saying anything at all for a day or two until someone asks you what you’re thinking.
Related: From coding to Creole cooking, here are 5 inspiring success stories from Black-owned businesses
multitasking
We used to think it was a superpower. “Wow, she’s so productive!” Now we know better. Our brains need time to readjust as we move from one task to the next.
Break it: Do one thing at a time and do them well. Take some time – at least an hour, maybe two – to focus on the tasks of each project and don’t let the other projects interrupt you.
Related: Is franchising right for you? Ask yourself these 9 questions to find out.
Skipping lunch
Another “macho” business habit exposed. If you’re so busy that you can’t take a break to recharge, you’re doing it wrong. This is one of several health-related habits to break: excessive drinking, smoking (in any quantity), poor diet, lack of exercise. You wouldn’t leave your laptop or cell phone running without charging it; Your body and mind will also not do well if you neglect them.
Break it: Take the time you deserve, eat a nutritious lunch and relax. Take a few breaks during the day to go for a walk. You might even solve that business problem when you step away from your desk!
Related: Don’t Make These 5 Risky Franchise Ownership Mistakes
Complain
Negativity drags you down and takes everyone with it; Positivity leads to success. We have a manager who thought he was always honest and transparent when sharing bad news. This is terrible leadership as the negativity spreads and gives everyone room to complain. We are changing this and he now has a better understanding of the impact his attitude has had.
Break it: Before sharing bad news or a negative opinion, ask yourself whether your audience needs to hear it. Will it make someone’s job easier or improve their day? If you must share it, just state the facts and don’t make it sound worse (or better) than it is.
Since I believe in positivity, I’ll leave you with one Good Habit you should cultivate. Be a “good finder,” as author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar used to say. It’s easy to get caught up in always finding fault in yourself and others, but you should make a habit of looking for the good in everyone too.