Beverley East, Contributor

In this fast-paced world, it is so easy to miss certain key opportunities because we are either moving too fast, not fast enough or just not paying attention. We all communicate in the workplace in a multitude of ways. While what you say is important, your non-verbal communication is equally important. Below are some common behaviours that could lead your colleagues to misread you and send the wrong signals.

Closed Communicator

If you have your own office, do not close your door. You may want to, for a number of legitimate reasons: The environment around you may be noisy or distracting and you are trying to insulate yourself from all of that. Or you may just simply want your privacy. But if you keep your door closed all the time, it sends the message that you don't want to be bothered with the outside world. If you like to work with peace and quiet, you will have to leave your door slightly ajar. You will actually get less interruptions if your door is slightly ajar than if it is constantly closed. People are curious or should I be blunt, just nosy. What are you doing behind that closed door? They just want to know.

If you are working on a deadline - then of course you may have no choice than to close your door. You should then leave a note that says, 'Currently on deadline' or 'Deadline approaching, please excuse me.' Explaining your status while your door is closed means you are not shutting people out completely and, of course, this fosters goodwill.

Casual Friday

I really don't understand this concept of dress-down day on Fridays. There should be specific rules about what is appropriate for work and what is not. You are still considered and expected to do a professional day's work so why spoil your image by wearing inappropriate attire to work.

While comfort may be the key, steer clear of wearing flip-flops, too-tight jeans, revealing necklines and 'see-through' garments. Also, the work environment is not the right place to show off your glitter, gold and shimmer.

Leave that for the entertainment hot spots. You might think you are expressing your individuality, but you could be sending the message that you are not a serious professional.

Sending the wrong message

Emails have become one of the quickest and easiest ways to communicate with people, both internally and externally. But nothing breeds more misunderstanding in the workplace than emails. It's easy to simply write 'OK' in response to a verbose message from a colleague or client, but your rush, your brevity may be viewed as dismissive or rude.

While most professionals work tight deadlines in today's fast-paced business environment, your communication should clarify, not confuse. Instead of immediately sending a reply that is terse and perplexing, take a moment to craft a grammatically correct response that is succinct, yet clear. Also, copy it to someone else, this way, you cover your back if there is some form of misunderstanding.

Tuned out

Some people believe that music is an impediment to productivity. Others, however, feel music improves their mood and ability to concentrate. If you listen to tunes with your ear phones stuck in your ear all day to help you focus, you could unintentionally be telling your co-workers that you prefer to be alone, or worse, still indicating to them that you don't wish them to be a part of your project. Hit the right note by going ear-bud free at least part of the day.

Personal displays

Different people are inspired by different images. When decorating your office or cubicle, the key is to give your space your own style and personality, while not inadvertently alienating or being offensive to others. You may love your family, especially your children, but an entire photo gallery of every aspect of your children's lives is unnecessary. No matter how cute you believe they are.

Also, you may have fond memories of an event, but wacky or revealing photos of wild events should be relegated to your home or study. It is also wise not to display political material, it is better to post an inspirational quote from an influential person or someone you admire.

Despite your good intentions, workplace misunderstandings will occur from time to time. By thinking about the double messages your actions may be sending, you'll significantly minimise misinterpretation.

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