5 Simple Ways to Be a Pleasant Coworker at the Office

Building good relationships at work is one of the challenges of professional life. If you are a new employee, longtime staff may not immediately accept or like you. On the other hand, if you are a longtime employee, a pile of work and a packed schedule that drains a lot of energy can make you impatient with “the new kid.”

Are you currently having trouble building relationships with your coworkers? Do you feel that they do not like you? How can you, whether as a new or longtime employee, become a pleasant coworker for your colleagues?

Why Is It Important to Be a Pleasant Coworker?

Being a pleasant person will support your role as a member of the work team. Therefore, building good relationships with coworkers is part of your job.

These five points can help you become a pleasant coworker who is easy for your colleagues to like:

1. Take Care of Your Appearance

Physical appearance is not an absolute measure of the quality of someone’s work or character. However, it cannot be denied that before we know someone’s heart, the first thing we see is their appearance. On many occasions, first impressions significantly shape a person’s image.

Looking good does not mean wearing branded or expensive clothes and accessories. What matters most is that our appearance is neat, clean, and fresh.

The neatness of the clothes we wear is an important element of appearance. Make sure your clothes are neat and not wrinkled. No matter what your style of dress is, surely you would not feel comfortable appearing in front of your colleagues or superiors in crumpled or dirty clothes, right?

A good appearance also shines through from bodily cleanliness. This is one way you respect yourself. Pay attention to the cleanliness of your nails and hair. Bathe twice a day and shampoo regularly. A pleasant fragrance can also boost our confidence. For that reason, you can use deodorant and apply perfume in moderation. Clean off tartar that can cause bad breath, and try to brush your teeth after eating.

With a polished appearance, you will feel more comfortable and ready to be active throughout the day, and surely leave a good impression on the company and your coworkers.

2. Be Friendly to Everyone

But be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32

What is the first thing you do when you arrive at the office? Most of us immediately sit down, turn on the computer, and focus straight on work. We get so busy that we do not pay attention to colleagues who have just entered the room. We feel no need to greet them and offer a smile.

Being friendly to all coworkers without distinguishing status is something important to practice (Ephesians 4:32). Greeting people and smiling first are signs of friendliness. Being friendly means avoiding a stiff or cold attitude. Joking within reasonable limits can also lighten the work atmosphere and make you more easily accepted within professional circles.

Your friendly attitude not only gives meaning to a brief meeting in the office hallway, but can also open new relationships later on.

3. Be Generous

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who gives water will himself be given water. – Proverbs 11:25a

Generosity is not only about money or charity, but also about a willingness to share what we have with others. For example, our belongings, time, and energy. Some of the examples below can be an inspiration.

Once in a while, bring snacks to enjoy together at work. Invite your coworkers to help themselves at your desk or in the place provided. The food does not have to be expensive; what matters is the togetherness you create. Habits like this usually spread and encourage your friends to take turns doing something similar. Wouldn’t this make the office atmosphere enjoyable?

As much as possible, accept your coworkers’ invitations to lunch so that you can build closeness and get to know one another’s character. Join in visiting a coworker who is sick, and show your attention and care sincerely.

Offering help to coworkers who need assistance is also an act of generosity. For example, when your friend is confused because printeris not working, you can help check whether the cable has come loose, and so on. In that way, you also help build a healthy atmosphere of closeness and care in the workplace.

4. Stay Connected

One of the lifestyles of the early church was gathering every day (Acts 2:41-47). From this story, I learn that people in one community need to gather as often as possible to maintain the spirit of the group.

Besides meeting at work, you and your office coworkers also need a place to socialize and communicate casually. Add your work colleagues to your social media friends list and chatgroups. This helps you stay connected with them outside working hours. You can share experiences and your hobbies through photos or casual conversation.

5. Be Yourself

Do not think that in order to be easily liked by others, you have to become what they want. You do not have to sacrifice yourself and your beliefs just to be accepted by others. In fact, by being yourself, you will be liked by others. Why is that?

Now the boy Samuel continued to grow and was in favor both with the LORD and with people. – 1  Samuel 2:26

If you want to be liked by people, first you must be liked by God. What did Samuel do so that God and people liked him? The answer is by continually being a doer of the word (1 Samuel 3:19). This is the way to be yourself and also be accepted by others.

When we are with office friends, we must remain doers of the word. I was once asked to lie by a coworker so the team’s work could be finished quickly, but I refused and chose to be honest. As it turned out, the work could still be completed just as quickly. So even if at first some people may label you as overly spiritual, in time they will know you as someone trustworthy and full of integrity.

A good employee not only cares about the results of their work, but also has good relationships with the people around them. Besides the examples in the points above, there are many other actions you can apply according to your job and workplace situation. May God bless your efforts!

And just as you want people to do for you, do the same for them. – Luke 6:31 - Church GKDI is currently present in 35 cities. We have Bible Study activities in every area; if you need information or would like to get involved, contact us at contact Church GKDI Official: WhatsApp 0821 2285 8686 or Facebook / Instagram GKDI Official

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