A good relationship with work colleagues is important for the working atmosphere. If you want to contribute to the positive atmosphere, avoid these five sentences.
We sometimes spend more time with our work colleagues than with our family. You not only share your job with them, but also memories of the last Christmas party or after-work as well as painful moments, which can range from a broken coffee machine to a company crisis. So it's no wonder that work colleagues are crucial for the climate and mood at work. A
study by the Bonn Institute on the Future of Work
has shown that the productivity of poorly performing colleagues increases by ten percent when they are placed in the immediate vicinity of their friends. In addition, many of those surveyed are willing to give up more salary for the right colleagues.
Work colleagues are essential for advancement in the job
Conversely, if you don't get along with your co-workers, your job and even career advancement could be made more difficult. On the one hand, professional contacts - regardless of whether they are a superior or a colleague - are essential for a promotion. On the other hand, it shows social competence if you integrate into your team and are interested in the people at work, explains the
ArbeitsABC
portal . In addition to better career opportunities, friendly relationships at work can also provide you with support and help. “Try to be the colleague you would like to have,” advises the job portal
Kununu
. To ensure that this is successful and that you do not make yourself unpopular, you should avoid using the following five sentences in your everyday working life.
1. “No problem”
Helpfulness is a praiseworthy trait. However, you should not constantly do other colleagues' tasks. Take a moment to think about the question and only take on a task if it actually doesn't pose a problem. Otherwise, you could quickly seem incompetent, explains career expert Pia Dominique Schweizer in Die
Welt
: Because you don't ask questions before taking on new tasks and say yes straight away before you understand exactly what needs to be done.
If you don't set boundaries and always agree, you'll appear less self-confident, which in the long term can lead to colleagues losing respect for you, explains
ArbeitsABC
. If you use the phrase frequently, you also suggest that people can ask you more often - after all, it's "no problem" for you.
2. “Honestly”
Honesty is also a character trait that bosses and colleagues value equally. However, emphasizing this additionally could have an unpleasant effect, as etiquette expert Barbara Pachter reveals to
Business Insider
. If you emphasize your honesty in certain situations, people in your work environment may assume that you are not telling the truth on other occasions.
3. “I have an important appointment”
Of course, there are those working days when the to-do list feels like it's dragging on and on and you're rushing from one meeting to the next. Understandably, there is hardly any time for having lunch together or chatting at the coffee machine. However, anyone who rejects any social interaction on the grounds of an appointment is quickly seen as unapproachable. You can also come across as arrogant because others will think they see themselves as more important. However, if you are on the same level as your colleagues, you should make as much time for meetings, discussions or a coffee chat as the others.
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4. “Stupid question”
If you start a sentence or question with this phrase, you automatically diminish the impact of what you want to say. By downplaying your idea from the start, you're likely to get little recognition from your counterpart, explains Die
Welt
. In doing so, you undermine your own expertise and appear unconfident. However, the impression could also be the opposite. Depending on what follows “stupid question,” it may appear that you are questioning work processes or other people’s ideas.
5. “I don’t care”
Sociable colleagues are popular. But colleagues who are willing to make decisions are even more popular. A person who always shrugs their shoulders radiates little personality and will have little chance of career advancement, emphasizes
ArbeitsABC
. You are more likely to gain sympathy from your boss and colleagues if you also express your opinion. A clear answer shows self-confidence and your own will. Instead of taking the path of least resistance, it's better to take a turn and demonstrate your decision-making skills.