Seven Essential Ingredients of a Good Working Relationship

Seven Essential Ingredients of a Good Working RelationshipWhile its bedrngnis always easy to get along with your coworkers, its a worthwhile endeavor good working relationships are more important than ever in todays increasingly collaborative work environments. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be easier said than done. Its not impossible, however. Get a proactive jump on forming positive workplace relationships by implementing these seven simple yet productive methods. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. Communication CountsOpen lines of communication are critical to all relationships both in and out of the office. Different people have different needs and preferences. Understanding your co-workers needs and delivering on them can help you not only enjoy a better working relationship, but also maximize productivity.Does he/she prefer email, phone or face-to-face meetings? Are daily check-ins preferable to weekly updates? Establishing gr ound rules for how and when youll communicate eliminates confusion, irritation, and other negative emotions in the workplace.2. Show RespectJust as your work is your top priority, so are your fellow co-workers roles and responsibilities of equal priority to them. Be on time to meetings, treat everyone with courtesy, and honor the time and space of others.3. Be PositiveWhile theres a time and place for venting, the workplace during work hours is not it. Avoid complaining about your boss and co-workers on the job. Not only does this damage others perception of you as a professional person, but it also promote a culture of negativity.Rather than becoming parte of the problem, commit to becoming part of the solution. If workplace problems are prevalent, brainstorm ideas toward their solution. This is far more productive than griping to anyone who will listen and risking your own reputation in the process.4. Listen UpEveryone has the potential to make a difference in the workplace regar dless of level or position. Encourage and welcome ideas from others, and refrain from disparaging or belittling them.This doesnt mean you have to accept and implement bad ideas, but it does mean treating people and their ideas with the same courtesy with which youd want to be treated.Plus, you never know when someones idea will turn into an unexpected solution for an ongoing challenging.5. Speak UpYou have a unique set of knowledge, expertise and ideas. Sharing these with your team members not only has potential to make positive change, but also gives your co-workers a better sense of who you are and what you have to offer.In addition to sharing your ideas, its also essential to share your gratitude. If a fellow employee has helped out with a task or made a positive contribution to a project, acknowledging their efforts can go a long way to building a sense of teamwork.6. Be AccountableAs Big Bird himself famously crooned, Everyone makes mistakes. Errors are a fact of life. In mos t cases, theyre recoverable. Whats not recoverable? Making a mistake and putting the blame on another co-worker. If you miss a deadline or mess up an assignment, own it.Conversely, when co-workers miss deadlines or mess up assignments, dont sell them out to management. Give them the opportunity to remedy their mistakes, and offer your assistance along the way. Your support when they need it now may mean their support when you need it later.7. Follow UpAlong the same lines as being accountable, its also essential to follow up on your obligations. If you say youre going to do something, do it. If youre unable to complete the promised task, promptly inform your co-worker or boss. Again, missing deadlines is understandable, but attempting to cover up or groe nachfrage from setbacks may lead to disaster. Trust between co-workers is paramount, and following up on your commitments is an essential component in developing trust.While you and your co-workers may never be besties, theres no re ason you cant overcome personal differences and work together as a team. These seven tips and tricks can get you on track to professional relationships which arent just tolerable, but fulfilling.

5 (Safe) Ways I Encourage My Kids to Take Risks

5 (Safe) Ways I Encourage My Kids to Take Risks The biggest responsibility that all parents share is the need to keep their kids tresor. Part of this process is to teach kids how to be safe when they are on their own. For some parents, getting your kids to take risks and step outside of their comfort zone is a huge challenge.There are several ways to help a child build confidence and take more appropriate and calculated risks. Here are just a few tips to fostering that in kids1. Focus on effort.One of the issues that come when a child is not willing to take risks is that they are not willing to work hard for something that they could fail at. Therefore, when fearing failure, a child may end up not trying at all. To teach them better, instead of focusing on the end result such as winning a game or doing well on a test you should focus on the effort that they put forth. This way, a child will quickly learn that the journey is important, and that failure is acceptable.2. Go over safet y measures.One of the issues that some kids have with accepting risk is that they fear that they are on their own. This is especially true when it comes to being left alone for a short period of time. However, you need to explain to them that they are always safe and that there are processes in place that are designed to provide them with additional protection. These can include systems from home security systems to lifeguards to local law enforcement, which are all here to help people that are in trouble.3. Allow kids freedom to journey.Many parents today are more hands-on than the typical parent was in the past. While there are advantages to this style of parenting, you need to make sure that you provide them with the freedom that they need to handle their journey on their own. Give them space to breathe, to be alone, to decide what they like and what they want to do.4. Discuss learning from failure.While it is important to not fear failure or lack of success, you do need to be ab le to recognize that it happened. However, you do not need to spend time dwelling on it for a long time. Instead, you should focus on finding ways to learn from the failure. One of the advantages of not succeeding is that you will have the opportunity to reflect on what you did well and what did not go well. When you are able to teach your child to do this, they will learn how to overcome adversity and move forward after they have any type of platzsetback associated with risk.5. Be the example.Like anything else with your kids, you need to be able to set the example that your kids should look up to. One of the things that kids are frequently able to identify is when a parent appears to be nervous or not willing to take appropriate risk in some situations. In these situations, it is important that you show a child how to go about deciding whether a risk is worth taking and then pursuing the situation if the risk is acceptable.Ultimately, all children will have a natural level of risk tolerance that they are willing to deal with. Those that seem scared to take appropriate risks could end up missing out on some great opportunities later in their lives. As a parent, it is important that you are able to teach them the difference between an appropriate and inappropriate risk, and foster a love for the prior.--Lindsey Patterson is a freelance writer and entrepreneur who specializes in business technology, customer relationship management, and lead management. She also writes about the latest social trends, specifically involving social media.