3 Ways to Be a Better Coworker & Employee
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Three ways to be a better coworker (that also make work better for you too).
Here are three things that make a huge impact in being a better coworker and a better employee. The payoff isn't just being liked. It's a more positive experience at work, better relationships, better career opportunities to grow, and a more positive vibe all around. Here they are:
“Taking pride in what you do, leveling up your skills, and wanting to grow are all things that benefit you, even if the company isn’t your dream employer.”
1. Care about being good at your job.
Whatever it is that you do, why not be good at it? Pull your weight. Handle the things that are in your bucket, and do them well. Don’t make other people have to pick up your slack. Be an intentional, good employee.
And yes, some jobs are just jobs. Not every role is going to be your life’s passion. Also, some companies aren’t great and don't treat their people very well. Both of those things can be true. But how you show up and how you do your your work still has a huge impact on how you feel.
Taking pride in what you do, leveling up your skills, and wanting to grow are all things that benefit you, even if the company isn't your dream employer.
Think about it from the other side too. A coworker who is intentional, does good work, and pulls their weight is genuinely valuable to have on a team and be around. Owning what’s yours, and keeping your side of the road clean matters more than people give credit for.
“If someone asked the people you work with what it feels like to work with you, what would you want them to say?”
2. Be someone that other people want to work with.
Be kind. Be generous. Be quick to jump in and help, or to ask how you can help. Say yes when you're able to.
Be a good person at work. Make friends across departments instead of building silos. Don't have enemies at work. Speak well of people when they're not in the room. Be the kind of person people genuinely enjoy having on a project.
Here's a question worth pondering for yourself: if someone asked the people you work with what it feels like to work with you, what would you want them to say? That you do good work? That you're kind, generous, easy to collaborate with, someone they like having around? Be intentional about embodying those things.
3. Be allergic to drama & garbage.
This one might be the most important of the three. Don’t do drama. Don't gossip about other people, and don't be a party to gossip when other people are spreading it.
“It’s a relationship and career-limiting move to be a grumpy asshole.”
Pretty much every workplace has people who are grumpy, miserable, and stir up drama for no good reason. Don't clump in with that crowd. It can be an easy group to get pulled into, but resist. Grumpy, everything-is-terrible energy people are a bummer. Feeding into an us-versus-them mentality at work (we hate other departments, we hate leadership, etc, etc) is not a benefit to your life, wellbeing, or career.
When someone comes to you to spread gossip or badmouth people, or spill tea, an excellent response is simple: "I don't have an opinion about that." Then leave it there. Be the place where gossip goes to die. Don't become the person badmouthing leadership and hating on any and everything around you.
To be clear, being allergic to drama doesn't mean being a fake, endlessly positive person who pretends everything is great all the time. You can be a real, genuine human being and not be a huge drag to your coworkers and team culture. There's a significant difference between those.
Don't be that person who is intentionally negative and drags everyone else down. Your reputation is impacted by who you associate with. It’s a relationship and career-limiting move to be a grumpy asshole:)
Bottom line.
Be good at what you do. Be someone people want on their team. Steer clear of drama. None of this is complicated, but these are things that genuinely shape how your career, and day-to-day life at work actually feels.
Related Blogs:
How To Shut Down Toxic Talk, Gossip, & Bullsh*t
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This article was created by Galen Emanuele for the #culturedrop. Free leadership and team culture content in less than 5 minutes a week. Check out the rest of this month's content and subscribe to the Culture Drop at https://bit.ly/culturedrop
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