We all spend many of our waking hours at work so why not invest a bit of time and energy into your relationships there? Whether you find the start of a life-long friendship or just want to maintain good relations with colleagues, try these tips to create a positive vibe at work.
1-Get to know your co-workers. Make time for casual chit-chat about personal interests beyond work (no prying or over-sharing!). Talking about your weekend or your puppy’s latest antics helps you get to know someone better. Building positive interactions can lead to more meaningful conversations and will help make difficult situations at work less intense.
2-Lead by example. Give and earn respect through your work ethic and professional demeanor.
3-Ask questions. Asking questions benefits you in two big ways. First, asking a co-worker a question shows your interest in them and the work they do. Second, you will always be learning something new.
4-Apply The Golden Rule. Treat everyone, from CEO to intern, as you’d like to be treated. Everyone you interact with should have the same impression of you.
5-Listen. Practice active listening. Consider others’ ideas and opinions and be respectful. Listen more than you talk and practice the fifth habit from Steven R. Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which is, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
6-Show your positive attitude. We all have challenges at work but keep a can-do attitude so you can work toward a solution. You can be a positive influence by encouraging your colleagues to work together to solve the problem instead of muddling around in negativity and finger-pointing.
7-Lend a hand. One of the key skills that lead to success on the job is collaboration. Share your skills, knowledge, and time to help co-workers and pitch in whenever you can.
8-Give encouraging and honest feedback. Practice giving constructive criticism to teammates. Choose words that are helpful and specific so that your co-workers know what you mean and understand your intention to help. Likewise, to improve your own performance, request the same type of feedback from others.
9-Participate in events. Show up and participate in work events as often as you can. Whether it’s volunteer day, the holiday party, or after-work drinks, make an effort to join in.
10-Do your job well. The best way to positively influence your co-workers and build relationships is to work hard and perform well. Ensure your colleagues can count on you to meet deadlines and produce quality work.
Try any or all of these simple ideas to create and maintain positive relationships with the people you see, and count on, every day. You’ll be creating good energy that will last from 8-5, and beyond.
