THE WORKPLACE
How to handle coworkers’ in-person bahavior
Be interested when connecting with others. This includes maintaining eye contact when talking to someone and putting down your phone during meetings. It’s also an important sign of respect.
Many people face some issues when they return to the workplace — coping with coworkers’ lessthan-stellar behaviors.
Along with do-it-yourself offices, many of the growing virtual workforce didn’t wear traditional work attire such as suits and ties or casual and conservative pants and jackets — from jeans and T-shirts to shorts and sandals. Accompanying these changes, often courteous and considerate behavior was abandoned and replaced by less appropriate manners and behaviors.
Instead of honoring behaviors that respected team courtesies and coworkers’ right to be heard, many employees disregarded others’ wishes and feelings. When they transitioned from a virtual to a conventional work environment, “they had to learn how to interact with people again and learn how to be a team player again,” said Lana Peters, vice president of the Americas at HR tech platform HiBob (at www.hibob.com).
Peters said that it’s “important to recognize when a behavior is bothering you because it’s inappropriate in some way.” Rather than ignore it and hope the bad behavior goes away, Peters said, it should be reported to your manager and HR.
Peters added that if “the behavior you are hoping to change is based on your personal preference — for example, if you prefer a particular mode of communication or would like feedback 1:1 instead of a group setting — these can easily be communicated in person through a 1:1 conversation.”
Do not text or email to try to change the behavior, rather talk to your coworkers in person so body language, intonations and general communication is better understood because you’re face to face, Peters said.
Peters offers the following tips:
1. Be courteous. Remember this time-tested rule: “Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.”
2. Do not interrupt or talk over people.
3. Don’t be too loud.
4. Do not play or watch inappropriate media in an office setting.
5. Keep your area clean.
6. Dress appropriately.
7. Be on time. Your employer’s and co-workers’ time is just as valuable as yours.
8. Avoid gossip. That helps create a better workplace culture for everyone.
9. Understand your environment. Know the dress code (or lack of dress code) and adapt accordingly.
10. Pick up after yourself.
11. Be mindful of others. This means using your headphones if you listen to music or on a call at your desk in a shared space.
12. Build relationships but be professional. Getting to know your coworkers doesn’t mean sharing all things about your personal life but keeping some things personal.
13. Be interested when connecting with others. This includes maintaining eye contact when talking to someone and putting down your phone during meetings. It’s also an important sign of respect.
14. Make people feel welcome. Inclusivity is important in every environment. Be open and welcoming to all colleagues — not only those on your team but also others across the organization.