How to Build Better Relationships with Co-workers - Workology

How to Build Better Relationships with Co-workers - Workology How do you get along better with co-workers? 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 doesnt 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. Heres 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 youll 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. Youll 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, youll notice them quickly warming up to you. Dont let one rotten egg spoil the bunch. On occasion, there is going to be a co-worker or two that is too difficult to get along with. The trick is to not personalize this and to not let any outside factors dictate how you feel. If you dont get along with someone, its best to keep your distance, however dont project their feelings onto others. Just because one person feels a certain way, doesnt mean that everyone in the office has that opinion. Also, just because someone feels a certain way doesnt mean that they are correct in their assumptions. Eliminate criticism from your daily talk. Many times, we focus on the bad traits that other employees have rather than focusing on the positive things those individuals bring to the table. Judging other people can be a big hindrance to you getting along with them. Going forward, think about the good traits and skills that each of your colleagues posses and remember that nobody is going to be perfect and we should learn not to hold our co-workers to standards that we dont hold ourselves to. 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 doesnt 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 youve built better relationships with co-workers?