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It’s Monday morning and you’ve only been at the office for a
couple of hours. The phone has not stopped ringing, you’ve barely
made a dent in your emails, there is a project deadline looming,
a team meeting to lead and your boss is concerned and hassling
you about the project outcome. Does any of this sound familiar to
you? Does it feel overwhelming?
The truth is that order to be successful, productive and less
stressed, you need positive, supportive relationships at work.
Here are the 7 keys to developing them.
1. Foster a willingness to listen. Good listening skills
are necessary in order to succeed in establishing good
relationships with managers, colleagues, and employees. While
talking less and listening more can be a challenge at times, it’s
important to suspend your own needs and reactions in order “hear”
what another person is saying.
2. Promote a willingness to work collaboratively.
Collaboration or “working together” is an extremely important
team concept. This means noticing and responding to the comments
and requests of others. Each member of the team has value and a
role to play so if one or two team members attempt to be “in
charge” and view themselves as more valuable, the effectiveness
of the whole team may be greatly reduced.
3. Endeavor to be respectful. The old adage “you catch
more flies with honey than vinegar” holds true. Showing respect
to others, even if they are unpleasant and rude, exhibits a
strong sense of self.
4. Respond in a timely fashion. Evaluate how timely you
are in responding to others. Remember, your response may affect
decisions or someone else’s ability to complete projects. When
you let someone know you have received their message but don’t
have the data they require, at least they know you aren’t
ignoring them. Often much time, energy and frustration is
expended because people don’t acknowledge a message or request.
5. Find a mentor. A mentor understands the company
culture, how decisions are made and office protocol. Your mentor
is willing to answer your questions, share their wisdom and
challenge you. Developing a relationship with a mentor can help
you transition into a company, a new department or a different
job. Having a mentor can help you manage and thrive in a
competitive environment.
6. Eliminate the negativity. Examine your behavior to be
sure that you’re not a chronic complainer who never has anything
positive to say, the boss who yells at employees under the guise
of motivating them, or the person who always blames others for
their problems. You’ll also want to limit contact with these
toxic influences as much as possible.
7. Surround yourself with supportive people. People who
value, encourage and support you are invaluable both in the
workplace and in your personal life. They help you problem solve
and deal with the challenges you encounter. They encourage you
even while asking tough questions. They don’t always agree with
you but rather are with you through “thick and thin”. Identify
the supportive people in your life and let them know how much you
appreciate them.
Evaluate your work environment and ask yourself: What kind of
relationships do I want and need?
Copyright © 2005 by Gail Solish. All rights reserved.
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Source by Gail Solish
