How to Build Better Relationships with Co-workers
| By Ken Sundheim | HR
Part of our success at work is contingent upon our ability to successfully deal with others. However, often times co-workers may seem difficult to get along with, aloof to our needs and, thus make it more difficult for us to get our agenda across and execute on daily tasks.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way. Just like anything else worth while, improving relationships at the office takes practice and persistence, but it can be done. To start, we have to analyze certain factors that make others gravitate towards our way of thinking and the drivers that influence your co-workers to take the actions they do.
Here’s what you need to know:
There is nothing people need more than nourishment for self-esteem.
When was the last time you complimented a co-worker? When was the last time you recognized something they did that was successful?
Often, we overlook the achievements of other people which hurts our relationship with them. People strive to feel important and enjoy / appreciate sincere compliments. Do so and you’ll quickly notice that these individuals will warm up to you.
We have to stop thinking of ourselves so much.
Many people are underpaid because they focus too much on what they want. Start to see things from your co-workers’ perspectives and go out of your way to help them. You’ll notice that being less self-involved will result in your colleagues acting the same way.
So rare is the individual who unselfishly tries to serve others. Be this person and your actions with show significant return on investment.
Learn to greet others with enthusiasm and, from time to time make sure you smile.
As a rule, know that people hate rejection and they fear the prospect of not being accepted by others. Start to show your co-workers that you are happy to see them by greeting them with an upbeat and positive attitude. Once you do this, you’ll notice them quickly warming up to you.
Don’t let one rotten egg spoil the bunch.
There will occasionally be one or two coworkers that are too difficult to get along with. The key is to avoid personalizing this and letting other influences influence your emotions.
It’s smart to avoid someone if you don’t get along with them, but don’t assume that everyone else feels the same way. Not everyone in the office will share a particular opinion just because one person does. Additionally, just because someone feels a certain way doesn’t necessarily mean that their perceptions are accurate.
Eliminate criticism from your daily talk.
Instead of concentrating on the advantages other employees bring to the table, we frequently concentrate on their negative attributes. When you judge other people, it might be quite difficult to get along with them.
Consider the positive qualities and abilities that each of your coworkers have going forward. Keep in mind that nobody is going to be flawless, and we should learn to stop holding one another to higher standards than we do ourselves.
Final Thoughts
Your ability to get along with your colleagues can either be lucrative or it can hold you back in your career. Luckily, the choice is yours. Remember to make sure to practice improving your relationships; it doesn’t happen overnight and it takes patience as well as persistence.
How do you get along better with co-workers?
What has been some of the ways you’ve built better relationships with co-workers?
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