Here at Success Steward, we don’t just teach you what to do to climb the corporate ladder and become successful in the company hierarchy. We also teach you what NOT to do, if you want to someday be part of the corporate top brass that looks down on lowly interns like you.

Let’s face it: no one enters a company without intending to rise through the ranks, or perhaps getting out and starting their own similar business after earning experience. The moment you become satisfied with your current position without any further aspiration, you stop growing both as a member of the workforce and as a human being destined for great things in life.

This lessons belongs to the “What not to do to be successful” category. So without further ado, here are some common pet peeves in the office that put a shadow in your shining performance review. Make sure you aren’t guilty of any one of the following:

Whistling at work

Some people like to whistle at work: carpenters mending a section of Fort Myers fencing; lumberjacks bringing down a great oak; perhaps construction workers as they weld and bang away. If you’ve noticed the pattern here, “office worker” doesn’t belong in the list.

Why? Because a desk job requires thinking, not hard labor or pure brawn. And it can very hard for your seatmates to think if you keep on whistling the killer’s theme from “Silence of the Lambs”. It’s only your choice of tune that’s making them double-think about telling you to shut the hell up.

Drumming fingers on the desk

Closely related to whistling is finger drumming.

They say people have a way of releasing nervous energy. Some pace the floor, other crack their knuckles or clasp their sweaty hands nervously. But none of these outlets are as distracting as drumming your fingertips away incessantly on hard wood.

If you find that it’s hard to concentrate without drumming against anything, here’s a pro tip: take out your hanky and drape it on the surface before you indulge your habit. Hopefully, the soft cloth will cushion the sound of your finger hitting the desk.

If that doesn’t work, drum against the side of your legs. Or better yet, just put those damn fingers on the keyboard and start working.

Loud keyboard tapping

Some people have a soft touch. Others, unfortunately, have a tendency to turn everything into a racket. Including typing.

Heavy handed key presses would’ve been understandable in the age of the typewriter. But not in the PC age.

Constant coughing

For chrissakes, if you’re sick, stay home. There’s no need to distract your co-workers with your coughing every six seconds. And the worst part is, you;’re probably spreading your little germs around with each phlegmy hack.

Distracting clothing

Well… this isn’t really a pet peeve. In fact, we welcome it, especially if you happen to be young, nubile and attractive. The lesser, the better.

But not if you weigh 300 lbs and have hair on your double chin.