Most people spend more time with their coworkers than with their friends, family members and significant others. While it is not necessary to become best friends with everyone at work, it is important to actively contribute toward a positive environment.
Participate in the Office Culture
An employee who is not interested in things like secret Santa games and potluck parties should still participate in them. Small gestures like bringing in baked goods once in a while make a big difference when it comes to integrating oneself into a company.
Learn How to Pick Battles
Businesses can be very attached to their ways of doing things, even if those methods are outdated or inefficient. It is usually better to go with the grain than to push one’s own preferences, especially as a new employee. It is also better to defer to a higher-up, even if he or she is incorrect, than to push for a victory on principle. Getting along with one’s coworkers is more important than being right.
Avoid Showing Off
On a similar note, employees who weigh in on matters above their pay grade are considered nosy and annoying. Colleges teach young adults to aggressively demonstrate their value, but this advice usually backfires. A good worker will garner recognition without having to use force of personality.
Separate the Personal and the Private
This should be an easy rule to follow, but real life makes it impossible sometimes. Employers that hire family members can have difficulty treating them like employees, not relatives. Unrelated employees need to cultivate immaculate airs of professionalism to avoid being reprimanded and talked down to like children.
Do Not Push for Friendship
It is tempting to want to join coworkers for happy hours and other leisure activities, especially if they are frequent subjects of conversation. However, sometimes it is better to wait for friendships to develop over time. Existing employees may have bonded over a specific office situation or having worked together for several years. It might not be possible for a new employee to join the group, and that should not be seen as a failure or a negative judgment.
Develop a Sense of Company Priorities
The boss always dictates which projects deserve the most attention and resources. An employee has to learn when to temporarily put her individual concerns aside and wait for the right moment to bring them up.
Handle Unfairness Gracefully
Everyone deals with unfairness at work and is occasionally blamed for an error that is not entirely his or her fault. These incidents should be dealt with and then shrugged off; bosses do not usually develop long-term grudges based on small quibbles. If this happens more than seems reasonable, the employee should showcase his or her problem solving skills. Research shows that solving problems matters more than the truth behind a misunderstanding, so situations like this are actually opportunities to shine.
Being easy to be around is half the work of succeeding in an office environment. Having a team mentality and furthering the goals of the company as a whole help an employee earn the good will that will guarantee him or her a long career.