3 ways of working better with your colleagues
Do you find that you struggle to get on with your colleagues? What are the ways of working better with your colleagues?
We’ve all seen sitcoms like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” and honestly, who doesn’t want a workplace like that? Sure, life in the office isn’t always funny and camera-worthy, but we have to admit that having great relationships with our colleagues can make our work lives a lot easier.
And I can say this from experience. In my line of work, I have the opportunity to meet and talk with a lot of people. One of the main reasons why people choose to stay with a company is the collective. The team, rather than the boss.
What’s even crazier is that there are studies that can prove this! Research shows us that employee happiness is 23.3% more correlated to connections with coworkers than direct supervisors.
What this basically means is that if you want to improve the quality of the time you spend at work, then one of the best things you can do is improve your relationship with your colleagues. And this can be either easy or hard, depending on the already established relationship you have with your team — and on the team itself.
But generally speaking, these tips should work. So what are the ways of working better with your colleagues?
1. Communicate with your Colleagues
You probably saw this coming from a mile away. But it doesn’t make it any less relevant. The truth is, communication can get you far in life, and it basically stands at the foundation of any healthy relationship.
Communication in the office doesn’t necessarily have to be just about work. Although it is important for you to manage tasks and responsibilities correctly, and give honest, yet sensible feedback, your interactions with your co-workers can go beyond that.
Try making your colleagues feel at ease in your presence. How can you do that? It’s quite simple, actually. The secret is to show genuine interest in their lives and in what they have to say.
So the next time you see your coworker in the break room, ask them how they are. Or if they have a family, ask them how their family members are doing. To start a conversation, you can even use a starter question like “How was your weekend?” or “What are your plans for the weekend?”
These questions might seem basic, but they can get the conversation going. Once that happens, you can learn more about your colleagues — and who knows, maybe you’ll even find out that you have things in common.
2. Respect your Colleagues
This is also something that most people consider to be general knowledge, but as in many cases, it is something easier said than done. Respecting your colleagues is something that mostly lies within good work etiquette.
Now, work etiquette can depend on the company’s values, but it also depends on your own principles and ethics. For example, office gossiping.
Gossiping can be seen as an entertaining activity, especially during a slow day at the office. But we all know that this is not a very nice thing to do. Gossip and rumors can really tarnish a person’s reputation and most of the time, they aren’t even true. How can you stop such behavior? The first step is to not participate in it.
Also, embrace people’s diversity and interests. Just because a person doesn’t like the same things as you do, or they don’t have the same beliefs, doesn’t make them less worthy of respect.
3. Help your Colleagues Out
Another way of working better with your colleagues is by helping a coworker out in many ways. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture for it to be appreciated. Something as small as helping them complete a form or explaining parts of a certain task they don’t understand can go a long way.
You can also assist them by offering them feedback on their work, or if you’re working in shifts, you can exchange shifts when they really need it.
So you can help in many different ways, but make sure that your kindness won’t be taken for granted. Instead of offering to take the entire task off their hands, try to make them understand how they can complete the task easier and faster.
Bottom Line
The thing is, different things work for different people. And in order to see what works and what doesn’t, you need to try some things out.
Now, some of these strategies might work for you, and you will see a considerable improvement in your work relationships. But on the other side of the spectrum, these tips might not help you that much.
This is why a coach can be beneficial. A coach can tell you if you’re doing something wrong, and they will help you pinpoint exactly what isn’t working out for you. Basically, with a coach, you can work on yourself, and also work on your relationship with others. And this doesn’t need to be limited to just your co-workers.
So, if you’re looking to improve more than one aspect of your life, then you’ve reached the right place. Contact me and let’s get started.