Some things we take for granted and never really notice them until they're missing. Little things, mostly, like fried rice with our cashew chicken or those silly stickers on bananas. But we can take big things for granted too: good health, rain, and clean air. The sudden lack of any of these can prove devastating.

In the workplace, reliability ranks high on the Taken for Granted list. Everyone taking part in your team's workflow process, from the boss on down, must be consistently reliable. Actually, your name should be synonymous with Mr. or Ms. Reliable, especially when other's work depends on your output.

Most of us assume we can trust others to get their jobs done, so you'll probably never win any rewards for being reliable. But rest assured: if you start letting people down, you'll soon lose that trust...and you may never get it back again. 

Here's how to rehabilitate a reputation as Mr. Unreliable, or avoid getting one in the first place.