A Life to Live – Shirley's Blog

  • 09:16:16 pm on June 26, 2015 | 0

    Relationships at the Workplace

    Ah, the workplace. Whatever you do for a living, you spend the vast majority of each week at work. And while you may work in an office full of people or with only a few individuals, it’s important to get along with co-workers. This doesn’t mean you have to be best friends and go out for after-work happy hour every day, but it does mean you should get along well enough to do your jobs without personal interference.

    Just as Important 

    Believe it or not, workplace relationships are just as important as any other relationship you can think of. This is due to the sheer amount of time you spend working together! It therefore follows to be mindful of these relationships, whether at work or not.

    Take a moment to think about each of your co-workers, or those you work with directly on a daily basis. How do you feel about them? Does your attitude towards one or more of them negatively impact your work in a way you didn’t realize? How about those you have a positive relationship with? Does your job seem easier when working on a project or otherwise around such people? If you find your job is seriously impacted by a co-worker you dislike, what can you do to rectify the situation?

    How We Respond

    When considering how to rectify certain co-worker-related inequities, it’s a good idea to think about your mindset whenever you see the person. Our reactions are often so ingrained we rarely stop to think about how they may hurt us and those around us. Consider your inner conversation when around co-workers, as well as body language. Does your body instantly stiffen when near a certain co-worker? Do you cross your arms and use other body language frequently construed as “defensive”? Do you hear your voice lowering an octave into something that’s monotone, if not bored and sarcastic?

    Stopping for a moment to become mindful of our inner conversations and body language is key in improving our work relationships. You may not be able to change your co-worker or anyone else in your life, but you can change how you respond to the person. And whether you think so or not, changing your attitude towards someone in a positive way always has great results. These results may not be instant, but they do help create much healthier, happier relationships.

    Do yourself a favor and improve your relationship with your co-workers! Work is often stressful enough….why add to your stress and therefore irritate your mind?

    For more on changing your mind and changing your life, please contact me today at A Life to Live.

     

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