Building Positive Co-worker Relationships

Job Seekers and Career September 2016

Changers

Career Management Digest

Building Positive Co-worker Relationships

This issue of Career Management Digest will look at finding job satisfaction by building positive work relationships. One article will focus on using the Strengthfinder assessment and how knowing your co-worker's strengths can build positive relationships. You will also see a list of ideas on building positive work relationships from some of our WDI offices.

POSITIVE WORK RELATIONSHIPS BRING JOB SATISFACTION Recently I read an article that pointed out the average American spends more time with coworkers than with family and friends. That is probably not a surprise to most of us; people are scheduled to work long hours, put in overtime and work second jobs to help earn a livable wage or what some are now calling a `family-sustaining' wage. Our time spent at work is big. If you have strong, healthy work relationships, you will be more satisfied at your job.

If you Google "companies with high job satisfaction" there are countless articles or links to research. In reviewing a few of these, several common traits emerge: company leadership, job security, advancement opportunities, company culture, work-life balance, education reimbursement, pay, benefits, expanded parental leave and built-in volunteer days are mentioned.

Several other hints to make your workplace a positive environment: 1. Use Please and Thank You often. A simple word or phrase can boost employee self-worth and encourage a positive team. Don't forget to thank upper management for their efforts, as well. Consider company recognition programs and offer simple prizes for participating. 2. Go the extra mile. Do those little things that can make a difference such as: starting the company coffee if you're the first one in, filling the copier with paper or printer ink vs. leaving it for the next guy, bringing in treats now and then or scraping the snow off a coworker's car while you're doing your own. Little things make a big difference. 3. Call an end to office drama. Walk away from gossip or complaints. If you can't do that, consider active listening techniques. Listen and help come up with solutions. Suggest co-workers take their concerns to your manager or human resources departments. 4. Admit to the bad habits if you're called on them. Don't be the person whose lunch

odors fill the whole office. If you work in a cube, be considerate about the volume of your music or your telephone calls. Do you use the office microwave or refrigerator? Take your turn cleaning it and throw away your leftovers before they become a science project.

5. Don't just call yourself a team - do your part to build it! Recognize your co-workers' strengths and abilities. Ask them for input, especially if they have the skills and knowledge you might not. Know a little bit about their life outside of the office. When a co-worker has attended training, ask them to share some highlights so you can learn, too.

~Valerie Kvale, Placement Specialist, Workforce Development, Inc. Freeborn County

KNOW YOURSELF AND YOUR COWORKERS Position yourself in a way that allows you to emphasize those qualities, skills, and experiences that employers look for. Learning to recognize the same in your co-workers will help you develop respect for their abilities, which leads to improved communication.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS: Be a team leader ? not just a team player. You have a positive influence on the ability to win and you are a part of the solution.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Be articulate, clear and concise in your writing and speaking skills in order to prepare and deliver messages in an above average manner.

CREATE A BIAS TOWARD ACTION: Be audacious and confident because underlying impressions and judgments are being made on your ability to demonstrate that you can and will take action, ask hard questions and make tough decisions.

ENGAGE OTHERS AND BE PASSIONATE: Be the "Spark" because you can envision what is possible ? not just what is. You have that sense of urgency that infects everyone around you ? a fire and a zest for work.

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS: Be professional and embrace professionalism because you bring up-to-date competence to the organization and you know how to share information in the workplace. Continue to grow professionally. Invest in yourself. Invest in your coworkers. Invest in your team.

~ Ed Duda; Career Counselor ? Workforce Development, Inc. Olmsted County

Source: "Guerrilla Marketing For Job Hunters 3.0" by Jay Conrad Levinson and David E. Perry.

The Workforce Development Board of Southeast Minnesota

Career Management Digest

SEPTEMBER 2016

P.2

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR

STRENGTHS:

USING

STRENGTHSFINDER ASSESSMENT

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OTHERS

"Tell me your three greatest strengths and

how they apply to your career."

Many people, when asked this question in an interview, stumble over what their strengths are. They can list off their weaknesses left and right, but it is difficult to highlight what they are good at. There are many ways to learn about your strengths (and the strengths of others) but one that this author is particularly fond of is Strengthsfinder. Yes, another assessment for people to take, but it allows you to place words and definitions to areas of strength that you either were or were not aware of. Using this assessment can help your identify your team strengths and how to tap into them.

There are 32 strengths outlined within Strengthsfinder and assessment takers receive their top 5. Knowledge of these strengths can help with interviewing, working well with others, as well as overall productivity at work. When you know what you are particularly strong at and drawn to doing at work, it makes sense to fill your day with those things that play to your strengths. Great leaders understand that harnessing the power of their employee's strengths will benefit their company, as people who enjoy their work and feel competent doing it will create an environment of optimal productivity.

The 32 Strengthsfinder strengths can also be organized into four broader categories, known as LEADERSHIP DOMAINS: Executing (GOLD), Influencers (ORANGE), Relationship Builders (BLUE), and Strategic Thinkers (GREEN). You will notice that I put a specific color behind each domain. Strengthsfinder and the Color Personality Test go easily hand in hand. By having employees engage in taking Strengthsfinder, offices are able to see what domains their coworkers are in and utilize that information to collaborate on projects and programs.

A Strengthsfinder Reference Card can be found at . This breaks down the 32 strengths into quick highlights of each strength.

~Amy Lofquist, Career Counselor, Workforforce Development, Inc., Steele County

STRENGTHFINDERS LEADERSHIP DOMAINS

SURVEY SAYS.... We polled local offices to find out what things they do to improve co-worker relationships.

* Use common courtesy * See the good in others and give them

the benefit of the doubt * Be inclusive * Listen with full attention * Acknowledge them and celebrate their

achievements * Respect people's differences * Cope with conflict effectively * Be reliable and act responsibly * Use humor and music * Don't whine and complain * Be observant * Smile often and be likeable * Find common ground * Fess up when you make a mistake * Hold potlucks whenever possible at

lunch or staff meetings and invite your partner agencies * Ask what's important to him/her and show genuine interest * Remember to celebrate the little things. * Offer to help when someone seems to be overwhelmed or if it's busy * Ask about their weekend; connect over things that aren't work-related * Learn about them-where did they grow up, what other jobs have they had, etc. It helps you to understand their point of view * Trust co-workers with your thoughts

and feelings * Treat them like you want to be treated * Be open to suggestions and the ideas of

others * Step up and help each other out * Model great team work daily * Don't leave anyone alone as the last

one in the office at the end of the day or in the parking lot during a snow storm. Offer to rideshare to an out-oftown meeting--be a buddy

~Bonnie Vanecek, Customer Service Specialist, Workforce Development, Inc., Goodhue County

Workforce Development, Inc. | 2200 Riverland Drive | Albert Lea MN 56007 Tel: 507.369.1472| Fax: 507.379-3413| Email: valeriekvale@

Web:

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