Copyright (c) 2006 Gail Solish
Actualize Your Goals
http://www.ActualizeYourGoals.com
It's Monday morning and you've only been at the
office for a couple of hours. The phone has not stopped ringing,
you've barely made a dent in your emails, there is a project deadline
looming, a team meeting to lead and your boss is concerned and
hassling you about the project outcome. Does any of this sound
familiar to you? Does it feel overwhelming?
The truth is that order to be successful, productive
and less stressed, you need positive, supportive relationships
at work. Here are the 7 keys to developing them.
- Foster a willingness to listen. Good listening skills are
necessary in order to succeed in establishing good relationships
with managers, colleagues, and employees. While talking less
and listening more can be a challenge at times, it's important
to suspend your own needs and reactions in order "hear"
what another person is saying.
- Promote a willingness to work collaboratively. Collaboration
or "working together" is an extremely important team
concept. This means noticing and responding to the comments
and requests of others. Each member of the team has value and
a role to play so if one or two team members attempt to be "in
charge" and view themselves as more valuable, the effectiveness
of the whole team may be greatly reduced.
- Endeavor to be respectful. The old adage "you catch
more flies with honey than vinegar" holds true. Showing
respect to others, even if they are unpleasant and rude, exhibits
a strong sense of self.
- Respond in a timely fashion. Evaluate how timely you are
in responding to others. Remember, your response may affect
decisions or someone else's ability to complete projects. When
you let someone know you have received their message but don't
have the data they require, at least they know you aren't ignoring
them. Often much time, energy and frustration is expended because
people don't acknowledge a message or request.
- Find a mentor. A mentor understands the company culture,
how decisions are made and office protocol. Your mentor is willing
to answer your questions, share their wisdom and challenge you.
Developing a relationship with a mentor can help you transition
into a company, a new department or a different job. Having
a mentor can help you manage and thrive in a competitive environment.
- Eliminate the negativity. Examine your behavior to be sure
that you're not a chronic complainer who never has anything
positive to say, the boss who yells at employees under the guise
of motivating them, or the person who always blames others for
their problems. You'll also want to limit contact with these
toxic influences as much as possible.
- Surround yourself with supportive people. People who value,
encourage and support you are invaluable both in the workplace
and in your personal life. They help you problem solve and deal
with the challenges you encounter. They encourage you even while
asking tough questions. They don't always agree with you but
rather are with you through "thick and thin". Identify
the supportive people in your life and let them know how much
you appreciate them.
Evaluate your work environment and ask yourself:
What kind of relationships do I want and need?
Copyright (c) 2005 by Gail Solish. All rights
reserved.
Credit:
About The Author:
Gail Solish, MSW, RSW provides executive coaching to women managers,
directors and executives focused on workplace development and
relationship management. Claim your FR-EE e-course "Unleash
Your Potential and Increase Productivity and Fulfillment"
at http://www.ActualizeYourGoals.com
or contact Gail at 416-322-0029.
Related
Information:
NBA
Benefit Provider - Salesgenie.com
NBA
Resource Article - The
Ten Pillars of Leadership and Business Development
NBA
Resource Article - Eight
Key Steps to Building B2B Major Account Client Alliances
Reprint
of this article does not constitute an endorsement by the National
Business Association; the article is for informational purposes
for our members and viewers of our Web site.
|
| |
