He was at it again. All through the two-hour long board meeting, he was in and out. Much as he tried, he could not put his cigarette down. Every time he came back, he would look disoriented, take us back to explain a point or two, and naturally waste our time.
Having been a moderate smoker myself, I vowed that this should not happen to anyone else. Many of us are caught in the same predicament. It starts with a puff during a coffee break, a puff between serving clients and before you know it, you leave the clients unattended to rush and smoke.
The points below should convince you to quit smoking and advance your career before you lose the source of your daily bread.
1. Quitting smoking encourages productivity at work.
It is impossible to fully concentrate on the tasks at hand while smoking at the same time.
Often you will see smokers with a faraway look oblivious of their surroundings while smoking. This distraction costs the company valuable time which is not recoverable.
For those who work in an open office space, a smoker will incessantly leave their workstation and interrupt their colleagues’ concentration. While heading to that smoking call, the senior management could come calling and this could be the reason why colleagues are getting pay raises and bypassing you.
Annually, the minutes lost while smoking could add up to long hours.
This could have benefited not only the worker but also the organization.
2. Smoking hinders social relations.
No doubt you have come across the ‘No Smoking’ sign in most public and social places. So what do you do when the smoking craze hits you? Your ego suffers and you feel marginalized.
It doesn’t help to see all your colleagues’ enjoying themselves at that end of year party. Who knows if this is the day that the Managing Director wants to elevate your position.
You should be prepared to lose this smoking habit to fit in with the rest. Furthermore, networking is key in business and you should do so without the smoking tag hindering you.
3. Chain smoking is a danger to health.
Smoking may result in lung problems. Many working hours are lost while victims seek treatment in hospitals. This pulls down a worker’s productivity.
A case of employee absenteeism reaching the human resource department puts an employee on the radar. If possible, quit smoking before you become a liability to the company and get kicked out of work.
For those in the entertainment industry, it is no hidden secret that smoking affects the voice quality. It is worse if you are a victim of constant sore throats. It is also not recommended for athletes and sportsmen. If you must smoke, it is advisable to try e vapor. The vapor has fewer side effects than smoking nicotine cigarettes.
According to the NHS Choices UK, ‘100,000 people die annually as a result of smoking’.
4. Smoking is a deal breaker.
Smoking requires a high level of hygiene. There is always that lingering nicotine odor after a smoking session.
Nothing kills confidence more than a hunch that your breath is irritating to a business partner. Instead of concentrating on delivering that well-rehearsed selling line, you are busy mumbling words and hoping to get it done with fast.
Quit smoking today, get all spruced up and ready for that multi-billionaire and watch your sheer confidence do the trick! You will rise up that corporate ladder faster than you know it. It becomes all serious when your smoking habits cost a multimillion deal.
5. Quitting smoking lessens anxiety.
Smoking is an expensive habit. According to research on cigarette smoking, done by the UK Government, ‘smoking is estimated to cost the NHS up to 1.7 billion pounds every year.
It is also estimated that, in 1996, there were approximately 1 million lone parents on Income Support, of whom 55 percent smoked an average of five packs of cigarettes a week at a cost of 2.50 per pack’.
Once addicted, come rain come shine, one must have ready cash for the cigars. Woe unto you if an emergency necessitates the change in your budget.
Stress and anxiety set in and this is evident in the quality of one’s work. To maintain it, some smokers have resulted to stealing from their employers which jeopardizes their employment.
The cash lost while buying cigarettes could have been used by the worker to further his education or finance some research to better his work.
Bottom line
No worker wants to remain a junior all his working life. Quitting smoking is one way of safeguarding one’s position in the corporate ladder. Do not let the smoking habit be the excuse that the employer uses to deny you that coveted promotion.
Always endeavor to embrace a healthier habit that both the employer and you can agree on. It will not hurt to try out new trends like vaping if you do not want to compromise on your lifestyle. I wish you the best of luck in your smoke-free career journey.
About the Author
Phyllis Baker is a professional journalist and the independent writer. Recently she writes about drug rehab and health issues. Phyllis manages public relations for the biggest US quitting smoking community.