ALittle Respect Goes a LongWay Recognize your staff members’ achievements and help. Offer praise to a team member for a job well done or a simple, “thanks” if they pitched in to make your work a little easier. Show your appreciation and watch how a few simple words can improve relations and make someone’s day. Don’t make negative comments or jokes about another’s work, skill, background, etc. Accept and respect different lifestyles, religions, etc. Work to understand rather than exclude and keep an open mind. You may gain new insights and uncover common ground. Be a good listener. Show you care and respect coworkers’ ideas by giving them your full attention during conversations. Let colleagues speak without interrupting and actively listen by: using eye contact, summarizing what they say, asking clarifying questions and offering open, courteous feedback. Include others. Make an effort to get feedback and ideas from colleagues. Doing so lets team members know you value their input and boosts team spirit. Remember there are many right answers. Instead of forcing others to accept your ideas, stay open to other With a little effort, attention and patience you can create an atmosphere where respect grows. Below are a few tips on how you can help your practice to function at its best. • Healthy Workplace Series • The following article is adapted and reprinted with permission fromworklifehealth.com possibilities. The most successful teams are those that can pool the strengths of each person to achieve a final result everyone is happy with. Don’t pry. Respect others’ right to privacy. Pressing coworkers for updates on personal circumstances won’t win you allies. Less forward questions such as, “How are you doing these days?” or “Is everything alright?” show you care without stepping into personal territory. It also gives the person an opportunity to tell you as much as they feel comfortable sharing. Don’t be a space invader. Everyone has his or her own personal boundaries; a general guidance is to stay about an arm’s length from co-workers when talking. Standing too close makes people nervous while keeping too much of a distance suggests you’re afraid. Also knock before entering an office and try not to interrupt co-workers on the phone or in meetings. Admit when you’re in the wrong. Taking responsibility for your actions shows others consideration and will earn you more admiration than scrambling to deflect blame. Sometimes a simple, “I’m sorry, I made a mistake,” is just the thing to smooth over a rough situation. 32 | 2023 | Issue 6 SupportingYour Practice
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