In the corporate world how you handle interactions with others makes a huge difference. And you’re probably aware that it’s not always easy to deal with the quirks and foibles of the people you work with.
Here are some of the most common complaints I hear regarding co-workers:
They’re too loud. Recently, an attendee in one of my seminars mentioned that there was a woman in the adjoining cubicle who was hard of hearing and read everything that came across her desk out loud at high volume. It was very distracting.
They interrupt. Regardless of whether you are in the midst of something imporant or not, somehow their immediate needs seem way more important to them.
They lack team spirit. This can show up as not offering to help when they have time or saying things like “it’s not my job” when asked to chip in.
Here are 3 crucial tips for working smarter with co-workers:
Put On Your Teflon Suit.
In other words, don’t let what they do ’stick’ to you. Do this by getting your ego out of the way, picking your battles, and realizing that the aggravations are usually not important enough to waste your energy on. By not engaging with their distrations, you can create an island of calm in the stormy ocean of office politics.
Granted, by taking this approach you will never be close enough to many co-workers to invite them home to dinner or really want to be friends, but it’s much less stressful to realize people are just the way they are, period. You can’t change them, but you can be smarter in how you interact with them. By the way, there’s a statistic that 14% of people want to smack someone they work with . There’s a lot of frustration out there!
Recognize What’s Really Bugging You And Find A Solution.
Of course this might actually mean telling the person. Let’s say the noise a co-worker makes is driving you up your cubicle or office wall, and you’ve even suggested that she be a bit quieter. Results? Things are as bad as usual.
You could say what you are feeling and what you need, and make a request. “I am feeling frustrated because I can’t concentrate with the noise, and I need to have less noise here so I can concentrate (your request). Would you be able to talk a little more softly?”
Whatever answer you get, you’re on the road to communicating. In the worst case, if the person is angry or upset, at least you can empathize with her and then continue talking about a compromise that works for both of you. At least it’s in the open and being discussed.
You could be creative and get a small rock water fountain, get a loud clock, use headphones, take some of the work to a conference room. There are many ways to find resolution and still get along.
Look To See Why Someone Is Behaving The Way They Are.
When we can really understand the reason behind the behavior, it makes it so much easier to handle. If someone isn’t pulling their share of work, or says it’s not their job, it really helps to understand what’s going on.
No one said working with others is easy, but as Daniel Goleman mentions in his books emotional intelligence, 25% of our success in life comes from our IQ, 75% from our EQ, our ability to handle people. And when we know why they are acting out and what they need, it puts us light years ahead of others.
Post a Comment