Managing Relationship in the Workplace Part II

Dear Readers, last week we looked at managing relationships in the workplace. Today  let’s look at the tips that can help foster this relationship:

1. Respect: –

 Respect is earned, not commanded. To get respect, you must show respect to others first and recognition will come naturally. Show your appreciation and gratitude toward your colleagues; they make the team and without their presence and collective efforts, work cannot possibly be done.

Argue tactfully in your verbal and email communications. Disagreeing is not a bad thing but it must be done professionally. Respect everyone equally and show no bias. Like the old saying “Respect begets respect” Respect first and you will be respected.

Try to know your colleagues’ personal side better by generating a genuine interest in their family and hobbies without overstepping the boundary.

1. Be your self

Be honest about who you really are. There are people who ignore this important fact and try to follow others. Don’t imitate others it can only be for a while before your character shows itself.

Understand your strengths and weaknesses and try to build a reputation of your own. Identify your shortcomings and take charge in addressing them.

1. Take pleasure in what you do

Check out the passion you have toward your work. If you are not enjoying your work, you would always release a negative attitude toward everything around you, including your colleagues. People can notice whether you are passionate enough or not about your work without you even realizing it.

Take pleasure in accomplishing whatever task is assigned to you and where you can’t, please shout for help rather than grumble or look for who to blame.

1. Know where to draw a line

 Often times many people try so much to the extent of going overboard, big mistake. This dangerously hampers the relationship building process. It is not bad being jovial but it is important to know where to draw the line.

Being professional is as important as being friendly. A slip of the tongue can get you into all sorts of trouble. So be careful about what you are talking.

1. Listen more and speak less

Conversation is a two-way thing: you talk and people listen, and vice versa. The truth is that, people who listen more than talk gain more trust. Friends will be more inclined to confide to you when they know you are a trustworthy and reliable person.

Sometimes, people bring problems to you not because they want a solution. Rather, they just need someone who they can talk to. Someone they can blow their steam off at. Someone they feel comfortable with.

1. No politics please

Lastly, do not let yourself be drawn deep into office politics. It is unfortunate that there are people who resort to ill-advised undertakings just to gain promotion or increase popularity at the expense of other honest, hardworking colleagues. 

If you have any issue with your colleague, talk to him /her for an amicable resolution.Try to be accommodating and seek a win-win conclusion.