Chapter 13
Coop II

JOURNAL ENTRY: What do you think is the
most important workplace skill?

Positive Workplace Relationships
◦ Considered the most important skill
◦ Having good relationships with coworkers makes
work a better place
◦ Helps you be more successful
◦ So how you do you develop good relationships?
Look at Yourself….

Key Personal Traits
◦ Responsibility
 Dependability, Positive Motivation
◦ Self-esteem
 Confidence
◦ Sociability
 Friendliness, enthusiasm, adaptability, respect
◦ Self-management
 Self-control, tactfulness, non-offensive
◦ Integrity/Honesty
 Loyalty, trustworthy

Self Awareness on the Job
◦ Understanding your own unique blend of
qualities can help you adjust to new work
situations.

Improving Your Personal Traits
◦ Can you improve yourself?
◦ On a sheet of paper make a list of the personal
qualities or traits you want to improve. You will
journal on these traits for the next few days.
 TODAY: List 5 traits you want to improve to
make yourself a stronger / more desirable
worker

Improving Your Personal Traits
◦ The simple answer: Yes you can improve.
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Step
Step
Step
Step
1:
2:
3:
4:
Zero in on one trait at a time
Draw up a plan and stick to it!
Keep track of your progress
Move on to other traits to improve
Develop
Positive Traits
Get Along with
Coworkers
More Effective &
Efficient At Job

Becoming An Effective Coworker
◦ EFFECTIVE – Getting a job done well
◦ EFFICIENT – Getting a job done quickly


Effectiveness comes when workers
cooperate with each other.
4 Key behaviors for effective coworkers:
◦ Respect
◦ Understanding
Communication
Good Humor

Becoming An Effective Coworker
◦ RESPECT
 Mutual respect
 Prevented by “Better Than You” attitudes and jealousy
 Every worker (no matter their job) contributes
something important
 Any job done well by a worker should be given dignity
 Rivalry should be eliminated
◦ RESPECT is a TWO WAY street
give = get

Becoming An Effective Coworker
◦ UNDERSTANDING
 Be an interested observer
 Ask coworkers about their goals
 Empathize with them (see things from their point of
view)
 Pay attention to coworkers’ body language – get to
know their expressions and actions

Becoming An Effective Coworker
◦ COMMUNICATION
 How you listen is as important as what you say
 Failure to convey info promptly and clearly can disrupt
teamwork and make EVERYONE look bad




Speak up and ask for help if you need it
Give guidance to others if it appears they need it
This does not include talking about private life
NO GOSSIP
◦ ALSO a TWO WAY street!

Becoming An Effective Coworker
◦ GOOD HUMOR
 Humor can carry you and other through stress
 Can unite a team and make people feel better
about themselves
 Don’t be a comedian – just add “glass half full” to
a situation or “Lighten up” a situation

Workplace Etiquette
◦ Etiquette – having good manners
◦ Typically thought of as something used at
weddings or by rich people – but really applies
to every day situations
◦ Think of all the etiquette you use
◦ on a daily basis at school.
◦ What are they?

Workplace Etiquette
◦ Etiquette Areas
◦ Courtesy
 Greet coworkers when they walk by your
 Address by name whenever you can (not “hey!”)
 Don’t interrupt
◦ Professional Dress
 Dress clean and neat no matter the dress code
 Don’t let your clothes speak for you – let your performance
make the impression!
◦ Punctuality
 Arrive on time
 Meet Deadlines
◦ Speech
 Do not gossip

Privacy
◦ Etiquette = Privacy
◦ Email / Faxes / Voicemail
 Treat electronic communication as you would treat
mail. Don’t read/listen to it unless it is yours
◦ Computers
 If sharing a computer do not alter or use files of other
workers unless you have created them or have
permission
◦ Office Space
 Respect coworkers privacy in shared spaces (locker,
file cabinet or desk)

Working with Your Supervisor
◦ Treat your supervisor with same respect and
courtesy as your coworkers. Ways to help:
 Deal with Criticism from your supervisor in an
objective and professional manner. Do not get
defensive
 Practice initiative instead of bothering your
supervisor with details that do not need their
approval
 Offer to help your supervisor
 Discuss complaints with supervisor and suggest
your own solutions

CONFLICT RESOLUTION
◦ Even with mutual respect, tension and conflict
will still occur at times
◦ Conflict Resolution – problem-solving strategy
for settling disputes
Step 1:
Define the
Problem
Step 2:
Suggest a
Solution
Step 3:
Evaluate
a Solution
Step 4:
Compromise
Step 5: Seek
Mediation
Step 4: Think
Creatively
Step 5: Seek
Arbitration

Diversity in the Workplace
◦ Diversity – variety, where each group
contributes something special
◦ What is one thing that makes you completely
unique from other people in the room?

Diversity in the Workplace
◦ Embracing diversity will help discourage
conflict at work
◦ Show respect for cultural, physical, religious,
age and gender differences and the viewpoints
each brings
◦ Acknowledge diversity makes your workplace a
community not just a workplace!

Diversity in the Workplace
◦ Stereotypes
◦ Stereotypes – oversimplified and distorted
belief about a person or group.
◦ Stereotypes ignore the individual
◦ Stereotypes encourage “us verses them” ideas

Diversity in the Workplace
◦ Ways to Overcome Stereotypes
◦ Cultural distinctions
 Different ethnicities have different customs
◦ Gender distinctions
 Sexism does not exist
◦ Generational distinctions
 Find the commonalities between generations
 Learn from the viewpoints of older or younger workers.
If you are a young worker now you will someday be in
the same shoes as your older coworkers!