Each morning, millions of us arrive at our workplace. We greet our co-workers, well most of them, and engage in some friendly chatter prior to getting down to business. So, what about those co-workers we do not talk to and really don’t like, but have to work alongside? Many of us struggle with this issue. It can be quite a task to work with someone we aren’t particularly fond of, but we have to do it. We have to remain professional at all times in order to keep our jobs and perform our assigned duties. There are a variety of strategies we can employ to deal with each and every fellow office personality, whether they are friend or foe.
Take the annoying co-worker, for example. This is the person that never stays on task, makes off-handed remarks or is simply a nuisance. When working in a team-oriented environment with such an individual, it is important to arrive prepared. By having an agenda, a list of goals and each person’s expected contributions; we can keep our co-workers focused. Also, we should utilize professional and relevant communication throughout the meeting. This will set an example and dispel tendencies to get off-topic or distract the team from their goals.
What about those pompous, mean-spirited co-workers? These individuals test our patience and our ability to bite our tongue by putting others down. This is where we can utilize our reflection and reframing communication skills. Whenever such an individual makes a remark to insult us, we can simply reflect the statement back to them in a positive way. In doing this, we do not reinforce their behavior by reacting with anger, as they obviously want us to do. Instead, we find a positive in their negativity and send a message that we will not be affronted.
Finally, how do we deal with the lazy co-worker? This is the man or woman in the office who, somehow, always gets away with doing nothing. They slow the progress of everyone else and make each day more difficult. The best way to put a stop to this behavior is to designate agreed-upon responsibilities for every team member. These responsibilities must be documented and provided to each member of the team in writing. The act of assigning tasks as a team makes every individual accountable, as they have they opportunity to be involved in choosing what their contributions will be. As a result, if our lazy co-worker remains lazy, it will be simple to ensure that they are held responsible for their negligence.
These are just a few tips for coping with those co-workers we’d rather not work with. These strategies can be just as handy for dealing with others in the office, as well. They promote a positive and cooperative work environment, as well as professionalism and active communication. It may take time to adjust to utilizing some of these skills, but once you achieve fluency, it will certainly pay-off!
Work
Leading your team to success
You have been chosen as a team leader on a major project at work. What do you do? Run screaming from the building? Cower in a corner? Try to pawn your role off on a co-worker? No. You should get excited! In being chosen to lead the team, you are viewed as reliable and responsible. You should be flattered and prepared to take on the challenge. It does not have to be that much of a challenge, though. Through the utilization of three simple communication skills, you can motivate your team to success.
First, it is extremely important to use open-ended questions when discussing the project with your team. This type of communication will serve the entire team well from the beginning stages of defining your plan of attack, through the final stages of project completion. You, as a leader, can pose open-ended questions to open the lines of communication between the team members, as well as to promote a free flow of ideas. You will certainly garner more information through the utilization of this communication skill, which makes every team member feel a sense of responsibility for the project as a whole.
Also, a team leader should make use of affirmations in order to create a positive, cohesive team environment. Some members of your team will contribute more than others and it is your responsibility to encourage everyone to give input. When a team leader affirms the ideas of a less vocal member of the team, it will show everyone that what they have to say is valuable. Similarly, by affirming those who frequently share their opinions, you will provide them with motivation to continue giving to the project.
Finally, it is extremely vital to use the restating communication skill. By reframing or restating the ideas of the team, you are verifying the information with the contributor. Additionally, restating can serve to clarify the information for the entire team. When a team leader utilizes restatement, it also serves to motivate all those present. This skill tells the team to continue giving their thoughts and ideas to the project, as it is a display of your attention and interest in what they have to say.
So, the next time your boss announces that you are going to lead a team on an important project; you can feel confident in your ability. As a leader, it is your responsibility to promote a team venue conducive to communication and cooperation in order to achieve success. By utilizing open-ended questions, affirmations and restating, you are doing this, as well as creating a work environment that is encouraging and motivating for all.