You're hung over. You've got your headphones in. You walk into the office, and the last thing you want to do is share awkward hello with the guy from accounts who is always stood in the same spot staring at the coffee machine.
And yet, according to an expert, making the effort to say hello to your colleagues in the morning could have a big impact on your working day.
Founder of career advice blog Jobacle, Andrew G. Rosen shared this easy piece of career advice in an article entitled '7 reasons to say good morning to your co-workers'.
"Joe and Stacey work next to each other," Andrew illustrates. "They sit no more than five feet apart. Even though they often arrive at work before the rest of the team, there's no communication between them. Only silence."
Sound familiar?
You're not alone. Rosen identifies an "alarming trend" in work colleagues foregoing a morning greeting.
But even a "casual nod and mumble" would be beneficial to your working relationships, he advises.
But why is it so important to take your headphones out and acknowledge another human so early?
Well, Rosen and other business experts believe that it improves communication, creates a more democratic environment and can lessen awkwardness when you inevitably need to ask your desk buddy a question later on in the day.
"It's quick (and relatively painless). If it is painful, you should probably be looking for a new job or scheduling time for some serious self-reflection," Rosen recommends.
Sometimes it's the obvious things.
