Let Your Work Relationships Work For You
There’s an old office saying that goes something like this: “Be aware that the toes you are treading on today may be attached to the person who’s hand you have to shake tomorrow.” In other words – never treat your colleagues with disrespect, as they might end up your boss one day!
Here are a few golden relationship rules to help you at the office:
1. A Little Courtesy Goes A Long Way
It’s not enough to be friendly and polite to your boss alone. You need to learn to get along with your superiors, your colleagues and your subordinates as well. You don’thave to be best friends with everyone, but you do owe them all basic courtesy and respect.
2. Discretion Is Crucial
Avoid the temptation to get caught up in office gossip. If you are constantly providing juicy titbits about who said what about whom, your employer and your colleagues arenot likely to think of you as somebody they can rely upon or trust.
3. Give Praise When It’s Due
It’s important to acknowledge the contributions and success of those who work both below and above you. But learn the difference between giving praise and sucking up.
4. Listen
Remember that in a group of diverse personalities, there is usually something to be learned from each one of them. So don’t forget to listen to your colleagues.
5. Be Consistent
Don’t be moody and lazy one day, then work in a fit of energy for a week before easing off again. Nobody will work easily with you if they don’t whether they’ll get asmile or a scowl when you walk in the door.
6. Be Passionate And Positive
If you have a positive and energetic outlook, everyone will turn to you for inspiration and encouragement, and you will soon find yourself rising above the pack. Be the onewho finds solutions, rather than complains about the problem.
7. Be Responsible For Yourself
By the same token, get on with the task at hand and take responsibility for your own work. Initiative, conscientiousness and determination to achieve are crucial factors forgetting ahead, as is the ability to make decisions and follow through.
8. Be Self-Aware
Industrial psychologist Sandra Kuter says: “ Self-awareness is key – take the time and effort to recognize your own strengths and limitations. It is vital that there is agood fit between yourself, your work role and the environment in which you work. When these get out of sync, it can result in a loss of job satisfaction and poor workperformance – as well as poor work relationships.”
9. Be Aware Of Stress And How It Affects You
“Stress management is also vital,” says Sandra. “Get to know what your hot buttons are and become aware of your emotions and what triggers stress for you. Learnhow to actively and positively deal with your stress so that it does not hinder your performance or work relationships in a negative way.”
