The average person spends approximately eight hours per day in the office, which means that your co-workers are the people you communicate with more often than you do with friends and relatives.
Things get really complicated when you find it difficult to get along with them, which affects your mood and productivity. Of course, finding common topics with everyone is a bit impossible but you can always find a way to make the work environment a bit more pleasant and even make new friends.
If you make an attempt to talk to some of your co-workers on a topic that is not related to your job, you might be surprised to know that they are actually nice people but the tense atmosphere combined with the lack of time to complete their tasks, makes them distressed and they behave in a completely different way.
There are a few golden rules for maintaining good relations with your co-workers. Even if they are not the type of people you want to hang out with, the tips below can save you a lot of troubles.
Refrain yourself from gossiping
Don’t draw conclusions about someone without having convincing evidence. In case a co-worker of yours does something improper, don’t spread the rumor. The best solution in such a baffling situation is to talk directly to your supervisor whose responsibility is to come up with an effective solution. Your honesty will be highly appreciated while gossiping will create a bad impression of you.
Talk to your co-workers during the breaks
That’s the easiest way to find out what their hobbies and interests are. You’d better keep the conversation light and avoid complaining about the terrible project you have been assigned or sharing your personal troubles. Stick to common topics most people in the group might be interested in and have a standpoint on.
Learn to be a team - player
As mentioned above, you spend the most part of the day at work and instead of being the person everyone avoids talking to, you might be the one everyone seeks help from. In case one of your co-workers have messed the things up, don’t rush to the manager’s office to explain what went wrong. Instead, try to help them figure out how to correct their mistake. Everybody can make a mistake, including you, so rest assured your co-workers will treat you the way you treated them.
Attend gatherings you are invited to
If your co-workers have a tradition of hanging out for a drink after work or they organize a picnic at the weekend, go and spend some time with them. If they invite you somewhere, that’s a true indication that they enjoy your company. However, if you turn down the invitation several times, they will definitely think that you don’t like them and the possibility of becoming the outsider of the office is pretty high.
Don’t regard your co-workers as competitors
Many employers set unrealistic targets their employees have to achieve and the reward for your efforts usually takes the shape of a solid bonus added to your monthly salary. At the end of the day, everyone in your office wants to earn as much money as possible but do you think that a one-time bonus could compensate for having terrible relations with the people in your office?
I don’t mean neglecting the opportunity for getting promoted or earning a juicy paycheck, but you have to beware of the means you use in order to achieve that goal. Don’t use dishonest tactics just to get the bonus. That’s the fastest way to make everyone in the office hate you.
Accept constructive criticism
Remember that no matter how good you are at your job, there is always room for growth. If someone criticizes you, it does not mean they dislike you or they want to make you feel down or unappreciated. On the contrary, constructive criticism means that your manager or co-worker regards you as an adaptive and talented person who can become an invaluable asset for the company if they are willing to master a few more skills. Be prepared to hear things that might not sound too encouraging but you’d better do not take them personally. Keep it professional and forget about all troubles the moment you leave the office after the long working day. This will help you spend some quality time in the company of people who matter and even the most prestigious work position cannot replace – namely your friends and family.
