Be the Kind of Employee People Want to Work With. Here’s How.
You know what it’s like. Some people are so much fun to work with that you actually look forward to seeing their faces come Monday morning.
And others? Well. You wish they worked somewhere else.
It’s great to be a memorable coworker — as long as it’s for the right reasons. There are two kinds of skills that will make people want to work with you: professional and interpersonal.
We all know people who have the most pleasant personalities but can’t make bread in a bakery. And we know others who are the best things since sliced bread when those sales goals need meeting, but they just happen to be the biggest jerks on the planet.
Either combination is sourdough for all concerned. You’re fooling yourself if you think that you can focus on one in the absence of the other.
There are six indispensable interpersonal and professional skills that will make you memorable.
1. Friendly
You’re pleasant to be around. You’re cool under pressure. Your focus is on our success — not just your own or the task at hand. You care about and connect with me as a person and a human being.
Relationship Action: Stop saying “hello.” It may sound counterintuitive, but “hello” and “how are things?” have become ubiquitous, impersonal greetings that mostly mean “I see you” — and sometimes not even that. We say them without a second thought and certainly without expecting a response. Instead, take the time to stop and talk. Show interest in the success of others – both in work and outside of it.
2. Cooperative
If your childhood report cards gave you high marks for playing well with others, then you’re headed in the right direction. Working well with others, providing support, input and guidance when asked and proactive when you see the opportunity will set you — and others — up for success.
Relationship Action: When others ask for your input or advice, stop what you are doing, talk to them, and don’t multi-task. When participating in a team meeting or problem solving discussion, be present.
3. Respectful
Far too many professionals get this one wrong. They think they’re too busy, too important or both to “make nice.” And they have the entirely erroneous view that, in order to demonstrate competence, they have to maintain a reign of terror. We may not be best friends, but we do need to work respectfully together.
Relationship Action: Listen to what others are saying. Quiet the inner voice that may be chattering away and distracting you from the conversation at hand. Be curious about what others are asking and experiencing. In doing so, you may just discover that you don’t just respect others, but actually like them.
4. Expertise
No one wants to be around someone who’s incompetent. It must be said, however, that everyone is incompetent for the first six months or so in a new job. Notwithstanding the idiosyncrasies involved in doing the job itself, you have to learn the organization’s policies, procedures and more. And as much as you’d like it to be otherwise, you can’t pick up all those things by putting a funnel in your mouth and pouring it in. It takes times to assimilate the nuances.
Relationship Action: Learning is a lifelong journey, but it’s easy to forget this and continue with the it’s-worked-in-the-past-it’ll-work-today approach. It’s up to you to stay abreast of new research, thinking and solutions being introduced in your field. Whether you read, watch TED talks, attend conferences or return to school, it’s absolutely critical to your career success that you actively engage in new learning opportunities on a regular basis.
5. Genuine
“Fake it until you make it” may be a clever book title, but it has no place in the working world today. If you don’t know what you’re doing, then whatever else you bring is just smoke and mirrors. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help, advice and guidance is OK. The sky won’t fall in, people won’t think less of you — in fact, people (the ones you want around anyway) want to help you. Success is a team sport — a fact often overlooked — and it’s easier and more fun to achieve when you have others around you.
Relationship Action: Involve others, ask questions, seek input and differing perspectives. You don’t have to act on all the feedback you get, but you’ll find that everyone can achieve more when people have “skin in the game” and are invested in your success.
6. Judgment
Decision-making is one of the weakest skills for many professionals. This may be due in part to the deficiencies of the rational decision-making model, which overlook that fact that people are not nearly as rational as they think they are. Those who are memorable for the right reasons know how to think through a problem, and then to make the best of a range of choices.
Relationship Action: Quit making decisions in a vacuum. Look for opinions where needed, and talk about your intended course of action before jumping in headfirst. You’ll find others more willing to implement your decisions when they feel they’ve been heard, and they understand the context and rationale for why a certain course of action was decided upon.
So, what about you? Are people glad to have you on their team, or would they prefer that you took a permanent vacation?
Related Blogs
-
Jun 14, 2024HR and Business Growth
In today's competitive market, businesses are constantly seeking ways to grow and succeed. One of the most important factors linked with business success is the..
-
May 17, 20245 Reasons HR is…
Human resources and recruitment are often not taken into serious consideration by different departments of the company. However, in this article, we would like to..
-
Jul 21, 202318 Valuable HR Lessons…
While formal education provides a solid foundation for a career in human resources (HR), there are certain invaluable lessons that can only be acquired through..
-
Jun 9, 2023HR Is Better Together:…
A common question I get from clients is, “How many people should I involve in my hiring process?” My answer is usually, “As many as..
-
Mar 17, 2023Tips To Engage And…
The role of a Human Resources (HR) professional can vary depending on the organization and the specific job title. From identifying the most suitable of..
-
Mar 10, 2023Why Prioritizing Soft Skills…
Soft skills are the personal qualities that enable an individual to communicate effectively, work well in a team, and adapt to changing situations. In today's modern workplace,..
-
Feb 24, 2023Factors Damaging Employee Relations,…
It's no secret that a company cannot operate successfully without productive employees. What are you doing for yours? As a company, Twitter excels at employee..
-
Feb 3, 2023How HR Professionals Can…
Some could easily argue that the human resources (HR) department is not a "revenue-generating" service. We don't create new products, interface with the traditional customer daily, or..
-
Dec 2, 2022Why Startup Companies Need…
Developing an active HR function in your business show that you value your employees and their business in your enterprise Growing startups and small and..
-
Nov 18, 2022The #1 Thing We…
Building an amazing team is how we grew KnowBe4 into a unicorn. Without the team, we'd never have made it. This is why hiring is so..
-
Oct 7, 2022The Power Of ‘One’:…
The power of one is mesmerizing. We don't realize it, but it can change how we see things. It can help us focus and help..
-
Jul 1, 2022How To Stand Out…
Are you struggling with new leads? Are you struggling with hiring? In this article I'm going to dive into three important ways you can create..
-
Jan 21, 2022Can HR People Have…
A reader asks: I recently got a new job in HR at a small (under 100 people) company. This is my first job in the HR..