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Do you find yourself receiving glares from your colleagues? Always tend to be rubbing people up the wrong way? Perhaps you have a reputation for telling it like it is, whether via email or in the middle of a meeting?. Your attitude might have got you noticed and given you some status in the workplace, but it doesn’t necessarily mean your job is safe and your unedited actions have been approved.

It’s great to make an impact in a team and to be assertive, but your attitude could be interpreted as aggressive or disrespectful. Let’s take a look at some of the situations that might put your job in jeopardy.

Your Emails Show Your True Colours

Writer Katie Way shot herself in the foot with a recent very public email she wrote to a television journalist, as part of the ongoing dialogue surrounding the #MeToo movement. However emotive the topic, Way came across as entitled and aggressive (she capitalised words, as if shouting, and also used the f-word). Unsurprisingly, the email has gone viral.

HR expert Suzanne Lucas called her out on the exchange, explaining that ‘Attacking someone burns a bridge’ and reminding us that emails are forever, especially thanks to screenshots. You can try and get rid of your online mistakes, but they have a way of resurfacing.

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Don’t Let It Happen: If in doubt, consider any email to a stranger as ‘a business email’, as Lucas recommends. You might not know the recipient, but don’t use this as an excuse to be unprofessional to them, even if you’re angry – just replace that anger with assertive but not offensive words, and stay in ‘adult’ mode.

You Don’t Take Timekeeping Seriously

Are you struggling to keep your lateness under control? Always the last one to clock on, or the one to push that lunch break a little too far? You might think your bad timekeeping has gone unnoticed, but other people are bound to be aware, especially if the rest of your team can stick to the rules. Of course, there are times when it’s unavoidable and you face traffic jams or train cancellations, but persistent lateness won’t look good in your performance reviews.

What’s more, arriving late doesn’t just affect you and your colleagues. A recent survey by the Scottish government found that nearly one in five Scottish drivers will break the speed limit and jump amber lights when they’re late for work. If your speeding caused an accident, you’d have more to worry about than being late.

Don’t Let It Happen: Break bad sleep habits by winding down properly before bed, and having multiple alarms set to help with those early mornings. Have your clothes and lunch ready to go the night before. Factor in more time than you need to actually get to work, because life has a habit of getting in the way.

You’re Too Blunt in Conversations

Some employees are good at keeping their emails professional, but they turn into loose cannons when they’re having a proper conversation, believing everything is ‘off the record’ or that nobody will remember what was said. In fact, bad verbal communication can easily come back to bite you.

Do you really want to be known as the one who accidentally called your boss ‘prejudiced’ in a meeting, or the one who was overheard slating your colleague’s presentation skills for the tenth time? Your vocal negativity could see you hauled in front of the manager, or given a performance review.

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Don’t Let It Happen: If you’re prone to speaking before you think, try to slow down. In high-pressure situations, you might need a time out to think about your answers and learn to phrase your argument more diplomatically, without blaming or slandering other people. Harvard Business Review has some useful tips on phrasing your responses without getting defensive.

You don’t have to censor everything you say, or change your personality overnight, but a few amendments could help smooth out any disagreements in the office and ensure your job isn’t at risk.

Polly writes for Inspiring Interns, your source for graduate careers advice, with a graduate recruitment agency to help find your next internship or job. Check out the latest graduate jobs listings on their website.