Which do you think is the MOST important or do you think it takes all three? Why?

8. Be polite and professional in all forms of communication

It doesnt matter if you are meeting face-to-face, by phone or through email, each interaction needs to be professional. When you communicate through text only, you dont have the tone of voice, facial expressions and other nonverbal cues that accompany it. Remember this when writing emails. Keep messages short and to the point, but dont send anything that you wouldnt say in-person.

9. Always be on time

Whether it is arriving to work or a meeting or making a deadline, punctuality is critical. Time is precious. When you miss a deadline, the whole team is affected and may have to cover for you. Teams rely on everyone to do their part. It is easy to underestimate how much time youll need to complete a project if you dont regularly track your work. Know how much time it takes you to complete tasks by using a time tracking app like Toggl Track. When you are late, you are being disrespectful and inconsiderate of another persons time and commitments. Dont be late. If you are running behind schedule, contact them as soon as you realize that you wont make it on time. Dont show up too early either. Arriving between 5 to 10 minutes before your appointment is ideal.

10. Dress appropriately

Dress codes have become much more relaxed in recent decades. However, just because there is no rule that says you cant show up for work in a hoodie, sweatpants and flip flops, it doesnt mean that you should. As much as we like to tell ourselves not to judge a book by its cover, our immediate reaction is to do just that. In fact, studies have shown that the first thing that people notice about others is their appearance. It is the primary influence on first impressions. You dont have to put on a three-piece suit, but dressing smart shows that you put effort into your appearance and are more likely to put the same enthusiasm into your work. When you dress in loungewear in a professional setting, people may think that you are lazy. It doesn't mean that you cant wear a comfy shirt and jeans occasionally. If it is appropriate for the work environment and situation, then go for it.