Regardless of whether you work a standard 9-to-5 or have a flexible work setup, it’s in your best interest to ensure that you have good working relationships with your teammates. Your co-workers are people you interact with for 8 hours a day, five times a week! Therefore it always pays to be a respectful and great co-worker in the professional world.
There are many benefits to becoming a great co-worker. For one, you can help cultivate a positive work environment. That in itself helps transform a boring office into an exciting environment. Plus, it will foster friendly, productive, and creative meetings—something that everyone in your team will definitely appreciate.
A health psychology and behavioural journal published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine detailed that employees perform better at work when they have positive work relationships in their office. Having a “work best friend” also lowers turnover rates in a company, as satisfaction increases and the work environment becomes more pleasant.
So, how can you bolster your work relationships? Try following these simple steps and see the difference.
1. Start your mornings with a greeting
When you come to the office, you can make a positive difference by greeting your colleagues with a smile, saying good morning or hello, and asking them how they are.
Acknowledging the other person’s presence goes a long way. This also helps newcomers feel less intimidated if you’re a long-time member of the company. It shows them that you are approachable. Small interactions like these can make a big difference to someone’s day.
While there’s nothing wrong with minding your own business, being too aloof may paint you as someone intimidating or inconsiderate. There’s nothing wrong with a little head nod from time to time!
2. Practice cleanliness and orderliness
As a rule of thumb, it is wise to clean-up as you go. Your office is a shared space, so it’s important to clean up after yourself.
It is unprofessional and incredibly insensitive to the people around you if you keep dirt lying around. It could attract rats or roaches and give your maintenance or cleaning personnel a harder time. As adults, cleanliness is more of the rule rather than the exception.
3. Avoid gossiping about your co-workers
Office gossip is possibly one of the most toxic things in any work culture. If any gossip gets out, it can put unnecessary stress and discomfort on the person you’re talking about. It’s not cool to stir the pot about your co-workers, as it could cause more tension in the long run.
The golden rule applies here. If you were to be the subject of some unconfirmed rumour in the office, you probably wouldn’t like it either.
4. Respond to your office-mates on time
Things can get pretty hectic throughout the day, especially when everyone’s in the middle of their business. Smooth collaboration is essential in any work environment. You can simply contribute to this by responding to your emails and messages as quickly as possible.
At the very least, if you can’t respond immediately, either update the office of your unavailability or apologize for any inconvenience. Respect goes a long way!
5. Give credit where it’s due
Extending appreciation to your teammate for a job well done or a helpful idea they shared is always a good idea. It should go without saying that you shouldn’t steal someone else’s idea or try to take credit for their work either. It’s unnecessary and will only cause ill feelings between the parties involved.
The same thing goes if you’re incorrectly congratulated or recognized for something you didn’t do. Give the real mastermind the praise they deserve.
6. Always be on time
One of the biggest signs of respect is recognizing the value of other people’s time. There are a lot of things happening in yourself and your colleague’s personal life and deadlines swamp everyone in the team.
If you’re going to be late to a meeting, can’t make it to an out-of-office event, or can’t deliver on an assigned deadline, all you have to do is let the other person know. Aim not to waste anyone else’s time.
7. Collaborate with your teammates
Group assignments are a wonderful opportunity for you to practice getting along with your colleagues. Showcasing proper work etiquette will give off a good impression to your office-mates. This will encourage both sides to engage in discussions about work, which could eventually lead to non-work-related conversations and improve your relationship.
8. Be civil even with difficult co-workers
An office will naturally be a hodgepodge of different personalities. People come from different backgrounds and have different mindsets. Despite your best efforts, it’s impossible to befriend every single person in your company! People can have natural differences and it is good to acknowledge this!
No matter what your feelings are towards a co-worker, the most professional thing to do is to set them aside and be civil. If it helps, you can approach the other person and aim to solve things amicably to clear the air. To be a great co-worker, treat your fellow co-workers with respect and don’t let any differences get in the way of your work.
9. Be Kind to One Another
In a traditional office, you probably spend more time with your colleagues than any other group of people, next to your family. It makes sense to want to establish stable relations with them. Your co-workers can become close friends outside the workplace. Friendships amongst co-workers will also make things extra enjoyable during your time at a particular company.
Final Words
Mindfulness is the real key to be a great co-worker. Being sensitive to the feelings and preferences of those around you. Factor in what others will feel—aside from your personal self. Remember that the energy you put out and the attitude you treat your office-mates will most likely be given to you in return. Do your best to be kind no matter the circumstance and choose to be more understanding when you can help it.
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