Anyone in any job will tell you that it’s not the product that makes the job, it’s the people. The relationships you build at a job will stay with you as you move from position to position, which is why it’s so important to make sure you’re being the best employee and co-worker you can be.
Indeed, the benefits of being a better teammate can have great impact on overall company culture. At Salesforce, for example, which was named one of Comparably’s Best Places to Work last year, employees rave about a culture characterized by “genuine caring and compassion” and people who are “cooperative, intelligent, willing to solve problems.”
Here are 11 ways to win over everyone in your office.
1. Help your coworkers complete a difficult task — and then give them credit for it.
Whether it’s getting a copyright for someone’s marketing campaign or finalizing the code on an engineering product, helping your colleagues finish a difficult task is a win-win. Not only is the company going to love you for getting the job done, but your fellow employees will love you for making it look like it’s about them, not you.
2. Bring goodies for the team.
Everyone loves the teammate who shows up with coffee and donuts. It’s a small but generous gesture that improves company culture and ingratiates you to the people you see every day.
3. Be a critical thinker but a positive person.
No one likes the person who constantly calls out issues in a negative way, nor do they like the person who pretends everything’s great and avoids talking about issues. The best workers strike a balance. Be the person who points out problems, but is overwhelmingly positive about how to address those challenges and conflicts.
4. Put deliverables and expectations in writing.
Important decisions can often be made during impromptu conversations. To get everybody on the same page, take a few minutes after the discussion to put the plan in writing and share it with the people involved. By being detail-oriented and organized, you’re making life easier for your colleagues and reducing the potential for mistakes as well.
5. Be politely persistent.
Workers at fast-growing companies have a lot going on, so helpful reminders are appreciated. If someone hasn’t completed a project for you, send them a nice note and and include a funny emoji. Be respectful and avoid passive-aggressiveness. Nag without being a nag.
6. Be great in meetings.
One of the biggest complaints among workers is that meetings stink — either they run too long, they’re too disorganized, or they don’t produce results. If you’re running a meeting, be clear with your objectives, invite the right people, and keep it short. If you’re participating in a meeting, speak only when you are adding value. (See more tips for meetings.)
7. Be intensely metrics focused.
You should be able to say “here are our company’s metrics, and here’s what we’re responsible for.” The teammate who does that makes the company so effective that they become a star. It also depersonalizes the tough conversations that can come with performance — you’re either hitting those defined metrics, or you’re not.
8. Be the culture leader even if it’s not in your job title.
Set up group lunches. Organize team events. You don’t need a senior title to take on the responsibility. Take care of everybody in the company and they’ll cheer your successes.
9. Save praise for public situations and give negative feedback in private.
Group settings are magnifiers. If you have critical feedback for someone, don’t share it in front of other people. If you have something positive to say, do it with an audience.
10. Be the most reliable person ever.
If you tell someone you’re going to get something done, do it. When others don’t have to check up on you, you instantly become the person that everyone wants to work with.
11. Be real.
Social media has made it very easy for your coworkers to see what you’re about. If the person you are online isn’t the person who comes into the office everyday, it’s going to make people feel like you’re not genuine. Nobody wants to be around somebody fake. Be yourself and it will build trust with those around you.
