- Your work life will be more enjoyable if you have a good working relationship with your coworkers.
- Luckily, there are quick and easy things you can do to get on good terms with your coworkers.
- We spoke to career advice experts to find out simple ways to be a considerate coworker in 60 seconds or less.
Most Americans spend at least 40 hours a week with their coworkers.
If that's the case for you, your time in the office will be much
more enjoyable if you've got a good working relationship with them.
That
doesn't mean you have to be friends with everybody in the office - but
it does mean you should be a considerate coworker.
Business
Insider spoke to career experts to find out simple things you can do in
less than a minute to be more likeable at work.
Introduce yourself
You know that person you always take the elevator with or see in the kitchen but never talk to? Introduce yourself.
"If
you think it's awkward that you don't know their name, chances are
they feel the same way," Alexandra Dickinson, a career and negotiation
expert and membership strategy lead at SoFi,
told Business Insider. "Making the first move takes guts, and you're
acknowledging the potentially embarrassing fact that that you don't
really know each other."
Go beyond the one-word answer
"The
next time someone asks you how you're doing, share something with them
that goes beyond 'I'm good, and you?' Then reciprocate," Dickinson
said.
Keep the conversation professional, but you can share some
details without resorting to a dismissive one-word answer like Emily
Charlton from "The Devil Wears Prada."
"Something as
simple as showing someone that you are listening to them goes a long
way toward building connections," Dickinson said. "There's a
psychological concept called the norm of reciprocity that makes someone mirror what you do. If you share, they will too."
Get to know your coworkers
Sure, you notice little things about your coworkers, like that Bill
from accounting always picks up lunch at noon on the dot or that your
boss is anti-Oxford comma. But do you know anything about their lives
outside of the 9-to-5? Again, be professional and respectful of
boundaries, but it's OK to talk about more than work.
"Ask
questions and listen to demonstrate a genuine interest in them," Vicki
Salemi, a career expert at Monster told Business Insider. "Since we
spend so much time at work and often see our colleagues more than our
family and friends, it's natural for conversations to veer into
personal territory."
Show appreciation
Everyone
likes to be recognized for a job well done. It's easy to say thank you
or to congratulate someone on a big achievement like landing a new
client or getting promoted.
"If you worked together on a
project, take time to thank your colleague. Even if you didn't
collaborate on something, but you noticed how hard your colleague
worked, point it out," Salemi said.
Just be considerate
When
you get into the office in the morning, say good morning to people,
and make small talk in the elevator - even though you'd rather finish
the podcast your listening to.
"Be friendly and kind to one
another. Be approachable and open - say hello in the hallway, smile,
make eye contact - it really is that simple," Salemi said. "Demonstrate
a positive attitude and be the person you want to be around."
