How hard is to be a good colleague?

If I could ask anybody on Earth, no matter religion or nationality, I think few people could give me a definition of what means to be a good colleague at work.

In fact, there is not a standard definition to explain what means to be a good colleague at work, but we could guide ourselves to some unwritten rules. This comes from the inside of each person and depends on its character, on the honour and respect we generally grant to human beings.

Anyway, in my opinion, attitude towards our colleagues is connected with our communication skills and the importance we grant to interpersonal relationships.

We should have a positive attitude at work, should try to avoid criticism for our colleagues or in case we have something to object we should treat the situation with diplomacy and decency.

If I could ask anybody on Earth, no matter religion or nationality, I think few people could give me a definition of what means to be a good colleague at work.

In fact, there is not a standard definition to explain what means to be a good colleague at work, but we could guide ourselves to some unwritten rules. This comes from the inside of each person and depends on its character, on the honour and respect we generally grant to human beings.

Anyway, in my opinion, attitude towards our colleagues is connected with our communication skills and the importance we grant to interpersonal relationships.

We should have a positive attitude at work, should try to avoid criticism for our colleagues or in case we have something to object we should treat the situation with diplomacy and decency.

Also should be indicated to avoid being rash to drawing conclusions without knowing all “data of the problem”, all details and last but not least we should dwell on the situation in which that person is, to make some efforts to understand his/her positive or negative reaction.

If you are in the middle of a conflict would be better to try to straighten it out, to bring powerful arguments in order to establish a better understanding within your department.

Also is normal to take into consideration how people around you behave, to know their impulses and attitudes towards you; this thing is necessary for knowing how to approach them in different situations. If you have to deal with an open-minded person your attitude would probably be the same, but you should keep in mind the professional relationship and not to rely only upon its friendship because on first plan should be the job responsibilities. In order to have a good collaboration would be ideal to have the ability to blend the professional activities with friendship, to avoid passing the boundary between these two. In case you work with a person who is not open-minded will be indicated to treat with respect, politeness and everything should be strictly resumed to a professional relationship.

If you have colleagues who have the custom “to stab behind” then a good attitude for you would be to ignore them, to obviate them but avoiding to be rude to them.

From my point a view, for having a better understanding at work, we should try to show sincerity, fellowship, an attitude without sarcasm, hypocrisy and arrogance, to make efforts in order to get rid of the idea of individualism inside our group, the idea that “the rest doesn’t matter as long as for me everything is alright”.

Let’s not forget that since we spend more than half a day at work should be better to see us as a team, to behave like the members of a big family.

All in all we can draw the conclusion that for being a good colleague first is necessary to remember we are all people and have to respect each other, to be polite, without being resentful and trying to help each other anytime there is the case.