10 Things to Stop Doing at Work If You Want to Be Taken Seriously

10 Things to Stop Doing at Work If You Want to Be Taken Seriously

Being “taken seriously” at work often has less to do with your title and more to do with the signals you send every day.

People decide whether you’re credible based on how you communicate, how you manage your time, and how you handle pressure when things get tense.

The tricky part is that many habits that feel polite, helpful, or harmless can quietly chip away at your authority over time.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked in meetings, passed over for stretch assignments, or treated like the default helper instead of a decision-maker, a few small changes can shift how others perceive you fast.

The goal isn’t to become colder or more aggressive.

It’s to come across as clear, reliable, and confident—without having to announce it.

1. Stop apologizing for everything

Constant apologizing can seem considerate, but it often reads like uncertainty, especially when you’re not actually at fault.

If you say “sorry” every time you ask a question, send a follow-up, or take up space in a meeting, people may start to assume you’re inconveniencing them by default.

That’s not only exhausting for you, it also trains others to treat your needs as optional.

A better approach is to reserve apologies for real mistakes and replace the rest with language that keeps your dignity intact.

Try “Thanks for your patience,” “Appreciate you taking a look,” or “Good catch—here’s what I’m doing next.”

Those phrases communicate professionalism, keep the conversation moving, and subtly position you as someone who is capable, accountable, and not afraid to take up appropriate space.

2. Stop saying “I’m just…” before you speak

Many people soften their words to sound polite, but phrases like “I’m just checking,” “I’m just wondering,” or “This might be a dumb question” dilute what you’re about to say.

Even if your idea is strong, your introduction frames it as optional and not worth attention.

Over time, that habit can make you sound less confident than you actually are, which affects how seriously people weigh your input.

Instead, practice stating your point with calm clarity and letting it stand on its own.

You can still be warm without shrinking.

Replace “I’m just following up” with “Following up on the timeline,” or swap “I’m just thinking…” for “Here’s a possible approach.”

When you remove verbal hedges, your message lands more cleanly—and people respond to you like someone whose thoughts matter.

3. Stop overexplaining simple decisions

When you feel the need to justify every choice, you can accidentally signal that you don’t trust your own judgment.

Overexplaining often happens when you anticipate pushback, but it can overwhelm people and make your decision sound shakier than it is.

The result is that colleagues focus on your delivery instead of your competence.

A more effective strategy is to lead with the conclusion, then offer just enough reasoning to show it’s grounded.

Think: decision first, two supporting points, and an invitation for questions if needed.

For example, “I’m going to prioritize Project A today because it impacts the launch, and Project B is waiting on approvals.

If you’d like the full breakdown, I can share it.”

This approach sounds confident, respects other people’s attention, and positions you as someone who can evaluate information and act decisively.

4. Stop being chronically late (even by 2 minutes)

Small lateness can feel harmless, especially when you’re juggling a lot, but repeated late arrivals create a pattern people notice.

It suggests you’re disorganized or that other things matter more than the people waiting for you, even if that’s not your intention.

Over time, it can erode trust and make your reliability feel questionable, which is the opposite of being taken seriously.

If meetings are back-to-back, build a buffer by blocking five minutes between calls or setting a personal rule to join early and use that time to scan the agenda.

When lateness happens, acknowledge it briefly and move on without a dramatic apology that derails the room.

Consistency matters more than perfection, and arriving on time is one of the simplest credibility builders available.

People naturally grant more respect to someone who shows up steady, prepared, and ready to contribute.

5. Stop gossiping and “venting” in public channels

Sharing workplace gossip might feel like bonding, but it can quickly turn into a reputation problem.

Even casual comments in group chats or open office spaces can travel far, and people tend to remember who spreads negativity more than who simply listened.

The issue isn’t that you’re never allowed to vent—it’s that doing it in the wrong place makes you seem unprofessional and unsafe.

If you want to be taken seriously, aim to be someone others trust, not someone who turns frustration into entertainment.

When you’re upset, choose a private, appropriate outlet like a mentor, a close friend outside work, or a structured conversation with your manager.

In the moment, redirect gossip with neutral language, change the subject, or focus on solutions.

A calm, discreet presence signals maturity, and maturity is often what gets you included in higher-level conversations.

6. Stop sending messy messages

Communication that’s hard to follow can make even smart people look scattered.

If your emails and Slack messages are long, unclear, or missing the point, colleagues may delay responding—or misunderstand you—and that creates friction that quietly damages your professional image.

Before you hit send, take ten seconds to organize your message so it’s easy to act on.

Lead with what you need, add only necessary context, and include any deadline or decision point.

For example: “Can you confirm the final numbers by Thursday at 2 p.m.?

I’m updating the deck for Friday’s meeting.” That’s short, but not abrupt, and it respects other people’s time.

Using bullets for multiple questions, writing a clear subject line, and avoiding emotional punctuation all help.

When your communication is clean and direct, people treat you like someone who knows what they’re doing and expects to be taken seriously.

7. Stop showing up unprepared

Walking into a meeting without context can make you look less capable than you actually are.

If you haven’t reviewed the agenda, pulled the relevant numbers, or thought through a recommendation, you may end up speaking in vague terms or scrambling to catch up.

That’s when people start to lean on others for answers, and your credibility takes a hit.

Preparation doesn’t mean doing hours of work; it means arriving with a clear understanding of what’s being discussed and what outcome is needed.

Skim the last thread, jot down your key points, and decide what you’d recommend if asked.

If you’re presenting, have your facts ready and anticipate one or two likely questions.

When you consistently show up ready, you become the person others depend on—and dependence is a major ingredient in professional respect.

8. Stop reacting emotionally in the moment

A quick eye-roll, a defensive reply, or a sarcastic comment can undo months of hard work, especially in high-stakes situations.

People aren’t judging whether you have feelings; they’re judging whether you can manage them under pressure.

The more responsibility you want, the more important emotional control becomes, because leadership is often about staying steady when things go sideways.

When you feel yourself getting triggered, pause long enough to choose a response instead of reacting.

Take a breath, ask a clarifying question, or say, “Let me think about that for a minute.” If something feels unfair, address it with calm specifics rather than heat.

You can also follow up later with a thoughtful message once your nervous system has settled.

A composed presence communicates confidence and strength, and it signals that you can be trusted with bigger decisions and tougher conversations.

9. Stop making everything urgent

If every request is marked “ASAP,” people stop believing you, and they start treating your priorities as noise.

Constant urgency can also create stress in your team, which makes you look chaotic rather than competent.

Being taken seriously requires judgment, and judgment includes knowing what truly matters right now.

Instead of defaulting to urgency, be specific about timing and impact.

Try, “Can you send this by end of day so we can finalize tomorrow?” or “This is for next week’s deadline, so Thursday works.”

When everything can’t be first, show that you can rank tasks and communicate trade-offs.

If you need something quickly, explain why without dramatizing it, and consider what you can offer in return, such as removing another task or providing quick support.

Clear prioritization signals leadership, and leadership is what changes how people perceive you.

10. Stop waiting to be told what to do

If you only act when someone assigns you a task, you may be seen as dependable but not necessarily influential.

Being taken seriously often comes from ownership—the ability to notice what needs to happen next and move it forward without constant supervision.

That doesn’t mean overstepping or making reckless decisions; it means showing initiative with good judgment.

Start by bringing solutions, not just problems.

Instead of saying, “This is unclear,” try, “This is unclear, so I suggest we choose option A and confirm with the stakeholder by Wednesday.” Offer to draft the email, make the call, or outline the plan.

Even small moments of initiative add up fast and make you feel like a driver rather than a passenger.

When people see you taking responsibility for outcomes, they naturally begin to treat you as someone on a higher level—even before your job title catches up.