Eleven Reasons Why You Would Be Fired

Original Spanish version published in El Comercio newspaper (Peru) on September 29,2015

1. You would be fired if you did not add clear and visible value to your company, if the results of your work were not easily quantifiable or measurable; if you always had an excuse for failing to meet a deadline; or if your boss often asked you, “What is it that you do all day?”
2. If you were not committed to the organization or its common purpose, you would probably be fired. Commitment, in the form of loyalty, is vital to success at work and is shown by clear and consistent, though sometimes subtle, signs. Fulfilling your commitments and giving your very best are clear signs of commitment; especially if you hold a position of responsibility or leadership.
3. If you shielded yourself from changes and new ideas, sabotaged new initiatives in favor of the status quo or “the way we have always done things here,” or if you evidently lacked enthusiasm to innovate, to learn new things, to change, or to improve, you can be sure that you would be fired.
4. If you quarreled frequently with your co-workers or clients, if it was always exhausting to deal with you, or if you went from one conflict to the other –making no effort to control your bad temper, your negativity, or your bad attitude–, you could be fired for this too.
5. You would also be fired if you were indiscrete or disclosed confidential information that could potentially harm the organization, its people, its products, or its services. Of course, you would be fired if you could not keep a professional secret or refrain from telling the world the intimate details of what happens inside your office.
6. You would be fired for being disloyal. Disloyalty may very well be the most powerful reason for losing trust in someone, and it does not necessarily mean going to extremes such as stealing, lying, or cheating. Being disloyal also has to do with failing to protect or jeopardizing the interests of the organization or, worse, doing things that may damage the reputation or the image of the organization or end up benefitting the competition.
7. If you went around bad-mouthing your boss, the company you work for, or its products, even if it was “only with your friends,” then why keep you around? If you are not happy with your job, you can always leave, with dignity and class.
8. If you didn’t join in with team efforts, or were the one who was packed up and ready to go exactly at quitting time –when the other team members were doing their utmost to accomplish a goal or major common objective–, you would certainly be included on the list of those to be fired.
9. If you were conceited, openly despised your boss or your collaborators, tried to manipulate them, were disrespectful to them –or to anyone else, for that matter– or on top of that you were always complaining about everything and about your bad luck at work, you would surely be fired, and probably without good references.
10. If you tried to cover up your mistakes and did whatever it took to hide them, not taking responsibility for these mistakes, but rather trying to blame others as instead, you would certainly be fired.
11. If your personal or financial life were a mess, chaotic –draining your energy, and affecting the quality of your work–, you should know by now that you would not be spared.

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