CoworkersAndrea A. Nielsen M.ED.

Brigham Young University2013

Steps to getting along with your CoworkersBring suggested solutions with the problems

to the meeting tableDon't ever play the blame gameYour verbal and nonverbal communication

matters Never blind side a coworker, boss, or

reporting staff personKeep your commitments Share credit for accomplishments, ideas, and

contributions Help other employees find their greatness

Bring suggested solutions with the problems to the meeting tableDon’t spend your time identifying problemsThink of solutions that might improve those

problemsRemember to be respectful and professional

Don't ever play the blame gameYou might need to identify those involved in a

problem.However, do not call them out publicallyRemember that you need allies at work

Allies at WorkOpen the lines of communicationSometimes you just need a listening and understanding earRespect others point of viewTreat them as equals no matter what job they haveNever participate in gossipBe available to spend time with themBe willing to do the extra jobsAlways put forth your best effort when working togetherChoose your battlesKeep your promisesResolve the conflict as soon as you canSupport your colleaguesNever blind side or back stab

http://humanresources.about.com/cs/workrelationships/a/workallies.htm

Your verbal and nonverbal communication mattersThe way that you treat other employees will

be monitored at work by others.It is never okay to demean others.

http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunicatio1/qt/nonverbal-communication-in-the-workplace.htm

NonverbalBody languageFacial ExpressionsPosturesEye ContactGesturesSignsClothes and other objectsOffice DécorTone of voiceTouchPhysical Space

http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunicatio1/qt/nonverbal-communication-in-the-workplace.htm

Never blind side a coworker, boss, or reporting staff personIf the first time a coworker hears about a

problem is in a staff meeting or from an email sent to his supervisor, you have blind sided the coworker.

Always discuss problems, first, with the people directly involved who "own" the work system.

Don’t jump over their heads to the supervisor.

Keep your commitmentsIf you say you will do something, you need to

follow through.Life sometimes gets in the way but make sure

that you do your best to fill in that gap.Your fellow teachers are relying on you.

Share credit for accomplishments, ideas, and contributionsTake the time to acknowledge themExpend the extra energyShow your thanksReward their accomplishmentsRecognize and specify contributions of the

people who help you succeed

Dealing with NegativityAvoid spending too much time with negative

coworkers.Do not provide a sympathetic audience for

negativity.Do not argue.Know your response to a conflict before you

address it.You may have to discuss it with a supervisor.

Unprofessional CoworkerI was fired about 9 months after the unprofessional boss was

made medical director. Items were taken from my desk without my knowledge and put in her office! I spent hours looking for them, knowing I had left them on my desk! I was also told to rewrite a procedure manual and it was also removed from my office! I got it back and her associate came and took it away again! After being on vacation for a week, I came back to a pile of work (nobody helped when I was gone so I'd be swamped when I returned)AND an e-mail that this manual had to be finished the following Monday! My mother then became seriously ill and we had an inspection that went badly because I didn't have the time to get everything done. I was even told I could not close my office door when it was noisy!(my job is very tedious and one mistake can land you in court)I was fired after getting paperwork for FMLA for alleged "rude comments.” What would you do?

http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/difficultpeople/coworker_hell/

Narcissistic CoworkerI just try and ignore her. She is not my boss. I had to set

boundaries with her when I first started my job. She was calling in everyday, not coming to work because she had a new boyfriend. She kept asking me to "cover for her." My boss does not know how to handle confrontation so I had to deal with this one myself. I told my boss that I felt the office protocol should be that when anyone was sick or not coming to work I would feel more comfortable with them calling him and not me, to which he agreed. As she kept calling me, I kept telling her that she needed to call our boss not me. One day she came in and in a loud voice tried to boss me around. I stood up and in a louder voice I told her, she was to call our boss not me because that was the way he wanted it. She no longer calls me.

What would you do?http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/difficultpeople/coworker_hell/

Constant Negative CoWorkerShe complains about her work load, yet she never accepts help, she will

eavesdrop on conversations while pretending to look through paperwork and then inquire about the conversation she overheard. If you are on the phone and transfer to another employee, she'll want to know who was calling, who they wanted to speak with in our office and what they wanted. If someone calls and asks for her, 9 out of 10 calls, she will make some rude comment, more often than not, it's the "S" word. she thinks that she has to be informed on certain things even when it doesn't pertain to her, when asking her for information, she will not divulge it, she constantly complains about getting "thrown under the bus" yet she does it to everyone else. Not once have I or anyone else heard this individual say anything positive. There is SO MUCH more and I could go on, but not enough space in this box! How can I confront her when I am NOT the confrontational type of person! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP! I have spoken with my office manager but all that was said was, "Oh, that is just the way she is"...

What would you do?