MINES Newsletter

Source: Agricultural Communications, The Texas A&M University System. (2000). Getting Along with People on the Job. Retrieved February 22, 2005, from http://tcebookstore.org/tmppdfs/5155983-L2367.pdf Printer-friendly version Newsletter back issues Once you have landed the job that you really want, you're not finished! You must start developing relationships with people you work with every day. This process is difficult, because people have different attitudes, working styles, goals and moods.

Remember: The customers, other employees and the bosses may be different from you. Below, each of these groups will be discussed separately because of their role in the organization.

For example: Mary works in a department store. She is always ready to help customers. She approaches them with a smile. She encourages the customers to buy clothes that look good on them. One day a customer is upset about merchandise that she bought the day before.

Customer: "I did not know it, but this dress has a stain near the hem."

Mary: "I am very sorry about that. Would you like to try on another dress?"

Customer: "How dare you ask me if I would like another one! No, I would like my money back. I would like to speak to the manager."

Mary: "Yes, Mr. Jones will be glad to talk with you. In the meantime I need you to help me fill out these forms while Mr. Jones is coming."

Throughout the conversation with the customer, Mary does not agree or disagree with her or accuse her of getting the stain on the dress. Her response is positive, which encourages the customer to return.

John works for a painting company. He always greets his customers with a smile and a handshake (if he knows them). He listens closely to what they want and tries to make sure that he is getting the right products for his customers. One day a customer is angry because his bathroom paint turned out to be a different color than the one shown on the color chart.

John agrees to give the customer enough paint to repaint his bathroom a lighter color. When he contacts the boss, he learns that the color used to paint the room was on the job work order. Nevertheless, the problem is corrected and the customer is happy with the result.

In this particular case the employee was right, but he did not accuse the customer of being wrong, which saved a lot of problems and perhaps kept a good customer.

If the situation had involved much more paint, the solution would probably have been different. The paint identified in the contract would have had to be used.

In dealing with customers, you must be humble, but not allow customers to bully you or lose profit for your company. You lose too much money when you continually give away products.

Co-Workers

In any type of job, you must be able to get along with fellow employees. You must realize that not all people are the same as you or as you want them to be. Employees must work together in order for the company to be successful and to solve problems that may arise.

Here are some basic ways to work with fellow employees:

• Always treat co-workers as you would like to be treated.
• Never lie or spread gossip in order to get ahead or to get in good with the boss.
• Respect the moods of your fellow employees. Everybody has a bad day once in a while.
• Be polite.
• Try to get along with other employees. Be a team player.
• Don't show off or try to impress your fellow employees or the boss.
• Try to work out problems with other employees first before going to the supervisor.
• Take pride in the work you do.

For example: Mark works in a sawmill. He works with many other employees on various projects. He always has an outgoing personality and a caring attitude. He tries not to gossip or invade the privacy of his fellow employees.

In return, there is mutual respect between Mark and his co-workers. When workers try to gossip about others in the department, he says, "Look, I'm sorry, but I don't gossip about people."

Mary is an aide at the hospital. She works hard not to cause any problems with her co-workers. One day while she is trying to get the patients served, she yells at the kitchen help, "Hurry up with my trays!"

After she realizes what she did, she apologizes for her actions. The cook says, "It hurts our feelings when you yell at us. We are working as hard and fast as we can. Thanks for apologizing." The atmosphere on the job among all employees must be positive and cooperative. Teamwork is the key to getting a job done well. Working together gets the job done faster and better.

Boss

In any work environment, there will always be someone in charge. This person may be called the boss, manager, crew chief, supervisor or assistant manager. These people are responsible for your performance on the job. They are in charge of the immediate work area; you work for and with them. Here are some basic ways of dealing with your supervisor:

• Remember that the supervisor is in charge.
• Do not be afraid to talk to the boss if you are having problems or need to ask questions.
• When you respect your supervisor and develop a close relationship with him or her, you are in a better position to get a good evaluation if you need to change jobs or want to be promoted.
• Remember, when you change jobs, your supervisor will be contacted to see how you performed on the job.

For example: Marie is a nurse's aide at a local hospital. Her immediate supervisors are the licensed vocational and registered nurses. If Mary is not busy and is asked to take blood pressure and temperatures by the nurses, she does so in a timely and orderly fashion.

She does this because she knows that it is her job and her patients' treatment is important. If she had said, "That's your job!" what would have happened to her relationship with the nurses?

Employees must understand their role in the organization. That's why it is important to know what your job is and what your boss expects when you begin a new job.

Fill out the following sheet. Check the box to indicate whether the situation is the "Right Way" or "Wrong Way."

Understanding, politeness, sincerity and hard work will make the workplace more pleasant. Everyone will be eager to go to work. It is important that customers recognize your workplace as a happy and cooperative place of business so they will return. Managers will also notice how you behave on the job and this could eventually lead to a promotion or pay raise.

About MINES & Associates

For over 25 years MINES & Associates has been a nationally recognized business psychology firm that provides a variety of services to corporate employers including employee assistance programs (EAP), managed mental healthcare, organizational development and psychology services, wellness programs, behavioral risk management, disease management, PPO services, and a number of other technology based services. MINES & Associates is divided into two main divisions, Organizational Psychology and Health Psychology, and currently serves a diverse portfolio of clients in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and the UK.

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