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© Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder,
www.careerbuilder.com
Taking a moment to
think about how we may be viewed by co-workers is an important exercise that
could have far-reaching effects.
While you may not
care what Bob down in accounting or Mary the administrative assistant thinks
of you, it's important to remember that Mary may go on to become the
administrative assistant to the potential new boss you have an interview
with. And one day Bob just may be in charge of auditing your expense
receipts at a future company.
"The single most
important thing to remember is to be considerate," says John Challenger,
chief executive officer of global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray
& Christmas, Inc. If you truly think about how your behavior may impact
others, you will understand how to behave courteously, improving your
rapport with co-workers.
Here are 10 more
tips to help you be a better co-worker:
1. Dial it down a notch. Whether it's talking on
your phone, singing to your iPod, or slamming file drawers
with a deafening bang, reduce the volume
of noises emanating from your office or cube, Challenger warns.
2. Keep your ego in check.
Watch your bragging. It's great that you recently aced the deal with a
difficult
client or made an
unbelievable golf shot yesterday. Most of your co-workers don't want to be
subjected to
hearing the endless
reasons why you are so great. Wait to earn a compliment rather than trying
to force
people to deliver one.
3. Avoid office politics (Part 1).
When the resident gossip "confides" insider information to
you and is waiting
to hear your reaction and
rebuttal, don't bite, even if it's about someone you dislike. Scandalous
scuttlebutt
flourishes on the office
grapevine, and you don't want your remarks to come back to haunt you.
4. Clean up after yourself.
This old standby of mom's is spot-on. Make sure you clear the
break table after
eating, and don't leave
food rotting in the fridge.
5. Silence it. Silly
noises usually elicit more grimaces than giggles. Avoid annoying phone ring
tones or
computer sound effects.
While you may enjoy hearing "It's a Small World After All" over and over
every time
your BlackBerry rings,
you can bet you're alone in your amusement.
6. Cut cube clutter. Make sure your thriving
collection of ferns doesn't cascade over into adjoining cubes or
the many pictures
plastered around your area don't stick up over cube dividers. While these
items may make
your cube “homey,” the
view from the other side is far less pleasing.
7. Avoid office politics (Part 2).
Today's politically polarized environment makes discussing
even the most
innocuous issue a
potential touchstone for office controversy. So keep your ideas for
obtaining world peace
or solving economic
dilemmas under your hat.
8. Temper your toxicity.
Try to not let your moments of personal or professional unhappiness blanket
the
office. Co-workers will
cringe at your ability to put a negative spin on everything.
9. Good hygiene never fails.
Oftentimes, you're with colleagues more often than you are
with your family at
home. That doesn't mean
you should become complacent in your grooming. Your co-workers will always
appreciate your use of
shampoo, toothpaste and soap – and several squirts of cologne do not take
their
place.
10. Keep the small talk small.
While it's important to bond with fellow co-workers, everyone is there to
work.
By all means share a
quick little story that will brighten their day. But don't plop down in a
chair and kill a
good hour with idle
chatter.
"The best
environments to work in are those where people really get along and have
built friendships in the workplace," Challenger says. "However, if there
ever is an issue between co-workers it's very important to recognize it and
repair it," he advises. It is in both your best interest and the best
interest of the company to maintain a cooperative, friendly work
environment.
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