How do you know if YOU are the jerk at work?

You know you are acting like a jerk at work if you approach relationships from the vantage point of what you want or need from others, rather than what you have to offer other people.

You know you are acting like a jerk at work if you blame others and make excuses when things go wrong, rather than immediately focusing on your role in the problem and what you can do to contribute to the solution.

You know you are acting like a jerk if you take yourself very seriously, but don't always take your obligations seriously.

You know you are acting like a jerk if you tease and make fun of others or call names.

You know you are acting like a jerk if you interrupt when others are speaking or don't pay close attention when others are speaking.

You know you are acting like a jerk if you make negative personal observations about other people.

You know you are acting like a jerk if you make negative, but vague, observations about the work product of other people.

You know you are acting like a jerk if you hold strong opinions about important factors in your working relationship with another, but never articulate your thoughts in a constructive manner.

You know you are acting like a jerk if you focus on the negative aspects of situations without volunteering to help make things better.

You know you are acting like a jerk if you deny or steal or begrudge credit for the success of others.

You know you are acting like a jerk if you lose your temper and raise your voice or make other loud noises of anger, even if you are only 'talking to yourself.'

So if one of those scenarios is YOU, well, now you know. YOU might be acting like a jerk at work. If you act like a jerk at work, it's going to hold you back. Mark my words.

I've seen this over and over and over again. Very talented, hard-working individuals who are committed and focused, but they never really succeed to their full potential. These stories always have their own history and their own logic. But often it turns out that what's standing in this talented person's way is that he/she, sometimes or often or maybe just at the exact wrong times, acts like a jerk at work. What does it amount to? Just this: A bunch of people at work, or a handful of people or maybe it's just that exact wrong person, just don't like that person very much. And that's going to hold this person back.

So if that's YOU, knock it off.