You may be the most brilliant person at your company, but if you can’t get along with your colleagues, you won’t get far. How your coworkers see you can have a big impact on your career long term, as well as on your day-to-day life. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to strengthen your social skills and become a team player. The following tips will not only help you make better connections at work, they’ll improve how others perceive you.
Put on a happy face
People who are the life of the party usually have one thing in common, they’re happy. If you smile often and have an upbeat attitude, your coworkers will be drawn to you. And when you’re having a bad day, don’t try to pull others down with you. You may find that people pass you by in favour of those with a more cheerful outlook.
Show that you care
When it comes to praise, don’t hold back the applause. If a coworker has done something you appreciate–no matter how small–thank them for it. Identify at least one attribute you value in each of your coworkers, and let them know about it. Give colleagues a warm welcome whenever they call you or visit your office.
Be an active listener
Unfortunately, active listening is becoming a lost art. Being an active listener shows that you intend to both hear and recognise another’s perspective. Using your own words, repeat what the speaker has said. By doing this, you’ll know that you’ve processed their words, and they’ll realise that your answers have been genuinely thought out. Colleagues will feel more connected to you knowing that you’re an active listener, and you’ll develop a better understanding of them.
Promote togetherness
Help co-workers thrive by creating a friendly, cooperative environment. Treat everyone the same, not like they’re part of a hierarchy, and don’t act like one person’s opinion is more important than another’s. As a team, you can do a communication or sales and marketing course together, or perhaps a leadership or time management course–to promote creativity, team spirit and togetherness. Make it fun and exciting, and at the end each employee will have an extra qualification.
Be a great communicator
In addition to being an active listener, you need to develop great communication skills. When in a discussion with colleagues, don’t blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. Instead, think carefully about the words you use. With clear communication, you’ll be able to avoid any potential misunderstandings with colleagues.
Make them laugh
Funny people are popular for a reason, so if you’ve got a great funny bone, use it. As long as you avoid inappropriate jokes and don’t laugh off serious situations, you’ll find your colleagues will be drawn to you. Humour can even be a great way to break down barriers with that super shy coworker or moody boss.
Put yourself in their shoes
An empathetic person can understand how another person feels, and empathy is an important trait when working with others. Always consider circumstances from another person’s viewpoint. What may seem like the obvious, correct answer to you, could have entirely different implications when seen from another perspective.