Aussie work ethic works

Teams love it the most

EVERYBODY loves a colleague who bakes but good oldfashioned hard work is the secret ingredient for Australians looking to win over their teammates.

More than half of Australian workers (53 per cent) say a great work ethic is the number one quality of a good colleague, a Twitter poll by SEEK reveals.

This is more valued than someone who looks out for others (22 per cent), has great social skills (15 per cent) or brings in treats (10 per cent).

Gina Brooks, director of Training X Design, says the best colleagues “do their work and do it well” by keeping promises, committing to team outcomes and taking change in their stride.

Apart from creating a more pleasant working environment, she says workers should ensure they are liked by colleagues for the sake of their personal brand.

“Think about how people talk about you in the workplace,” she says.

“If you are the sort of person that wants to be successful in your career, the research shows (employers) are more likely to award (leadership) roles to the happier person who is more liked.”

Brooks cites research from The Happiness Advantage which finds 75 per cent of job success is predicted not by intelligence but by optimism, social support networks and the ability to manage stress in a positive way.

‘‘ WHEN YOUR BRAIN IS IN A POSITIVE MINDSET IT PERFORMS 31 PER CENT MORE PRODUCTIVELY AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH.

GINA BROOKS

“When your brain is in a positive mindset it performs 31 per cent more productively and a lot of that has to do with the people you work with,” she says.

“People will say ‘I just go to work and do my thing, I’m not going to make friends’ but they

are shooting themselves in the foot because that’s a great source of support.”

SEEK resident psychologist Sabina Read says some people spend too much energy thinking about what others can do for them rather than how they can support others.

“Even the smallest gestures can light up another person, making the workplace more fun, harmonious and connected, which impacts productivity and satisfaction; resulting in a win-win for all stakeholders,” she says.

Read encourages workers to

make simple changes to become a better colleague.

“Get to know something about each of your colleagues beyond the role that they are employed to do, and be prepared to share something of yourself,” she says.

“Look for things colleagues

do well and let them know, no matter how small; be open and responsive to each others’ needs; don’t let conflict fester – when differences arise, acknowledge them rather than leaving them unspoken; and support each other’s goals and aspirations.”