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A survey by HR consultancy Chiumento (www.chiumento.co.uk) suggests positive work relationships are the #1 influence on happiness at work. Make a genuine human connection with your colleagues.
“No” is positive if it frees you to say “yes” to what matters. Say it in a sensitive, helpful way. Buy time by asking: “can I think about it?” “No” is not always easy nor desirable, so do practice with discretion.
Plain English promotes clear communication to help avoid misunderstanding. Be concise and use simple, direct words. Make essential points upfront. Avoid jargon. Resources at www.wordcentre.co.uk may help to improve your plain English.
Make warm eye contact and keep your posture open and relaxed. Angle your body towards the other person and listen actively. Respect others’ personal space (different for all). Smile often. You’ll zap away stress around you.
Be direct with a gentle tone of voice. Never let stressful uncertainty fester. Clarity empowers.
The most effective emails either inform or confirm. Make the subject line meaningful. Be courteous. Keep it short and emphasise human contact. Check and answer email only at the start, middle and end of each day. Respond when it suits you to prepare well. Delete, organise and archive your email regularly.
Defuse tense situations with charm and humour, moving on rapidly without fuss. Your “can do” attitude dissolves stress both for you and others.
Surveys cite lack of feedback as a major source of workplace stress. Praise generously when merited, always being specific and concrete. Seek the best in everyone. Suggest improvements constructively.
This buys you time to refine your words and lessens the risk of misunderstanding. A timely pause also sets the scene to let people listen more closely.
It’s far better to ask for skills, equipment or people than to worry. It shows confidence to ask for the resources you need to do the job. Talk about the benefits of doing it properly. Open discussion liberates.
Never take comments or events at work personally. A UCL study of 8,000 employees over 11 years showed that those with big grievances had a 55% higher chance of heart disease. You’re paid to solve problems: rise to the challenge and stay composed.
Compromise is the best way to prevent stressful situations. Instead of letting potential conflicts simmer and grow, reach small agreements every day.
Align your request to what motivates that person. Take time to listen and put them at ease. A combined package of “fun and results” is intrinsically motivating.
Be proud of your achievements if objective data confirms them. A humble attitude shows inner confidence. Gentle banter with colleagues lowers stress.
When someone does you a favour, provides information or delivers, don’t just accept it as part of their job. Express your gratitude without delay.
Take genuine care of your colleagues’ wellbeing. Perform random acts of kindness. A happy work environment improves productivity and customer service.
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