“A simple rule in dealing with someone who is hard to get along with is to remember that this person is striving to assert his superiority, and you must deal with him from that point of view.” –Alfred Adler
Peer relationships are among the toughest to build in any organization. Difficulty among coworker relationships can stem from bad experiences with peers in the past, competitive behaviors, poor communication skills, and negative personality traits. Companies who actively work to build good relationships among their employees are more efficient when it comes to time as well as resources and productivity. This is because their people feel more open and comfortable and work better as a team. So, how can you personally build better relationships among your peers?
• Be courteous to everyone. You never know when that one person you were rude to in line at Starbucks may be your next coworker, client or even your boss.
• Don’t be negative. No one wants to work with someone who is perceived as cold, insensitive or impersonal. Try to leave a positive impression by making an effort to put others at ease and by being a good listener and by being genuine.
• Avoid being competitive. While having a competitive spirit is useful when it comes to sports, at work, you want to be cooperative. Otherwise, your peers may cut you out of the loop and work to sabotage you.
• Don’t dominate a group task. Generate a variety of options and ideas rather than suggest your way is the only option. Invite criticism and suggestions.
• Share the credit. Give your peers the recognition that they deserve and hopefully they will do the same for you!
• Do team building training. Learning to work together is always a great investment!