As an employee, it would be nice to be able to sit back and let the employer do all the work. A quick perusal of newspaper, magazine and Internet articles reveals a portfolio of employer dos and don`ts, coupled with many sources quick to point out how (or how not) to run a business.
The quickest way to put your colleagues` backs up and create a vortex of low morale is to moan continuously to whoever will listen.
Jill Hamlyn, MD, The People Business
In an ideal world, the employer is solely charged with the responsibility of keeping employees happy. The truth is that you, the employee, have just as much responsibility for your own happiness and comfort in the workplace. Here are 10 commandments for employees that will help to ensure peace and harmony in the workplace:
1. Thou shalt not moan constantly
The quickest way to put your colleagues` backs up and create a vortex of low morale is to moan continuously to whoever will listen. We all know that in our less-than-perfect society there is enough to moan about, and in a job that is not meeting your expectations it is very easy to present a negative front. Everybody has bad days and nobody is perfect. However, when bad days turn into bad weeks and then bad months, it is time to stop, take stock and re-evaluate. The challenge is to either do something about unsatisfactory situations, or to find the silver lining in the clouds. Chronic moaning is often a habit. The good news is that this bad habit can be broken.
2. Thou shalt help each other
If one of your workmates is stuck, whether in a doorway while moving something or in the middle of a big project due to lack of inspiration, help them. This help may entail pushing a piece of office furniture or it may be as simple as listening while a colleague bounces ideas off you. One of the most powerful places in a company is a room filled with people who work together talking about their work. Productive chat enhances energy, recharges ideas, builds trust and increases inspiration. If someone has helped you, do not forget to say thank you. Be prepared to reciprocate.
3. Thou shalt take problems AND solutions to your boss
If you are in a situation that is less than satisfactory, or you have been part of a corporate bungle, have a solution or an idea on how to improve matters at the ready when you take the problem into your boss` office. Most employers appreciate this initiative on the part of the employee as it shows that the employee is willing to take responsibility and clean up after themselves.
4. Thou shalt not abuse thy power
Not all employees have equal amounts of power and standing in a company. If you are one of those who are fortunate enough to have more power than those around you, do not abuse it. Respect it. This means knowing and acknowledging that you have it, but not rubbing other people`s noses in it. It also means not using it to blackmail your workmates into doing what you want them to do, or using your status to cosy up to management while your colleagues founder due to lack of input and direction. Power can be removed with surprising alacrity, and not necessarily by those at the top who gave it to you.
5. Thou shalt be reliable
Being reliable means that if you promise to do something, you deliver. It means being on time for work and meetings with colleagues. It means phoning or e-mailing people when you say you will and returning calls and e-mails promptly. Being reliable means that you are viewed as someone who can be counted on. People who can be counted on earn the respect both of their bosses and peers, and are incredibly reassuring to have around. Having reliable employees means that employers do not have to worry about irate clients or a slack business.
6. Thou shalt not lie, steal or cheat
Lying is easy in the beginning but becomes complicated further down the line as you have to continuously remember what you said to whom. The majority of people are interesting enough and competent enough not to have to lie. While in the real world so-called white lies sometimes ease us out of potentially sticky situations, it is wise to keep the whoppers out of the office. Building relationships based on lies can be fatal in the corporate world - being found out is shaming and it is hard to rebuild trust. The same can be said for stealing and cheating. Whether money is filched out of the till or credit is taken for someone else`s idea, the guilty party will be exposed sooner or later. It is a simple truth that honest people sleep better at night.
7. Thou shalt not undermine thy colleagues
A young teacher once had a serious falling out with one of her colleagues. When asked by her students, who had noticed that she seldom came to the canteen during break time and that the two teachers did not have much to say to each other, whether she disliked this other teacher, the only response that she would give is that the two of them had different personalities. Everybody`s respect for this teacher increased when she refused to gossip about or run down her colleague both in the classroom and the teachers` room. In business, the relationship between employee and client can become very personal and it is sometimes tempting to talk about your colleagues to your clients. This is great if you are saying good things, but the damage can be irreparable if you constantly present them in a negative light. Back in the office, gossiping about or putting down your colleagues is dangerous and creates a serious lack of trust and workmates who are wary of each other find it difficult to work together.
8. Thou shalt respect thy workmates
This is the corollary of the above commandment. Treating your colleagues with respect entails being thoughtful, honest, listening to them and respecting their wishes. It means not scratching through each other`s desks without permission or spending hours gossiping loudly on the telephone within earshot of the whole office. It goes even further than that. Having respect for yourself and your colleagues means that you pull your weight in the workplace and do not constantly shirk your duties and then expect your colleagues to cover up for you. People will forgive a bad day and will usually do their best to help, but respect falters in the face of constant laziness. When others perceive that you are not doing your work to the best of your ability, they understand that you do not respect them. In turn, they will find it difficult to respect you.
9. Thou shalt be loyal
Whether to your company or to your colleagues, being loyal helps to build trust in the workplace. Loyalty can denote sticking up for your company and workmates, or maintaining a discreet silence even when you are longing to say something. Loyalty is easiest in an environment that fosters it, but considering that each one of us is part of the environment in which we find ourselves, we can go a long way toward making loyalty an integral part of our workspace.
10. Thou shalt take thy work seriously, but not too seriously
You have a job to do. Do it and do it to the best of your ability, but make room for the little absurdities that have a tendency to creep into our everyday lives. It can be hard to see the funny side when one crisis is piling up on top of another, but a sense of humour can sometimes be your best asset when the chips are down. A good laugh is beneficial in all sorts of ways from the physiological to the psychological. Think about how you feel when you share a chuckle with someone - it creates a bond and a sense of facing in the same direction. It removes the stress of the moment and allows you to tackle what needs to be done with renewed vigour.
The above commandments are not carved in stone but are simply a guideline.
In our society today there is a disturbing tendency toward apathy, negativity and blame, and it is imperative that we refocus.
A couple therapy technique advocates finding one good thing that your partner does everyday, and to thank him or her for it. Caught up in a spiral of negativity, this is more difficult than it sounds.
Slowly (for this is how change happens), the focus shifts from the bad things to the good. Why? Because you are looking for the positives. This can have a big impact in the workplace.
If nothing good can be found, maybe it is time for a change. It is up to you.
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