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YOUR COWORKERS

When you work, there are other people around. These people are your coworkers and they are very important in your work life. They can help you get your job done more easily. They can also be interesting people for you to talk to during a break or lunch. Your coworkers are aware of the unwritten rules concerning dress and personal belongings in the work area. They can provide coaching on new technologies and equipment. If you do not treat your coworkers well, they may make your job harder. Remember to treat your coworkers with the respect and good attitudes you would like people to show to you. Cooperation and courtesy are very good ways to get your job done well.

Good suppliers

Many times you rely on a coworker to finish a task and provide you with his or her product before you can start your job or current work assignment. This makes the coworker one of your suppliers. As in all business, you need to keep this "supplier" happy and willing to work with you. Some ways to do this include responding positively to their requests, asking for changes in a polite manner, working with them to develop better methods, and letting them know how well you think they are doing.

If it becomes necessary to make corrections, remember that people do not always respond well to outright criticism. Try to phrase your corrections in a positive manner. Use "I" statements rather than flat accusations. People will not feel the need to defend themselves if they don't feel they are being attacked. Say "I get behind when I have to recheck the arithmetic on your forms." This can be accepted more easily than "You always make mistakes on your math! Don't you ever check your numbers?"

Satisfied customers

Many times a coworker relies on you to finish a task and provide him or her with your product before that coworker can begin their job or current work assignment. This makes that coworker one of your customers. You want your "customers" to be satisfied with the quality of your work and with your positive attitude. Think how you want to be treated when you are a customer. Treat all people who are your "customers" with the same courtesy.

TEAMWORK

Many employers realize that employees who work together are more productive than those who work by themselves. This is called teamwork. Teams may be a permanent part of your work environment. In some offices, teams are used only for short periods until a goal has been reached. Companies rely on teamwork more and more, because it can lead to greater efficiency and higher productivity. Teamwork can also maintain or increase a company's profits when faced with global competition and reduced workforces.

You will be called upon to participate in teams throughout your working career. When you understand the way teams work, you might be a better team member. It may also help for you to know some of the skills needed to help make your team effective.

Formal or informal?

Teams can be formal (a permanent part of the organization). That is, when you first start at the company, you are formally assigned to an existing or newly created team. Many times, these permanent teams will focus on a particular product line or geographical area. These teams have a clear structure and the team leader is assigned by the organization. More formal teams will have several functions covered in their membership.

Informal teams are generally created to accomplish a single goal. For example, they may decide how to improve an existing process, such as billing and receiving. These teams generally have members from the areas of the business that are affected by the process or would be impacted by the change. Using the example of improving the billing and receiving process, members would come from shipping, sales, accounting, mail, and other related departments. Sometimes the team will be composed of people sharing the same rank (like all foremen / supervisors or all sales representatives). Sometimes the team will consist of people with many different job assignments.

Make your team effective
You become a member of a team based on your skills, abilities, and availability and on your company's needs. There are many skills that prove helpful when working on a team. Here are several with their effects on the team and the company.

• Positive attitude
  Teams will be better if all members have a positive attitude and work together to achieve the team goal.
  
  
• Active participation
  Teams don't work well unless everyone is willing to participate. If you don't care about the team goals, you need to be reassigned.
  
  
• Problem solving
  Looking at problems and imagining possible solutions and their effects is an important duty for the team and its members. Many informal teams are pulled together to identify and remove bottlenecks to business processes.
  
  
• Reliability
  Just as you rely on your team members, they rely on you to finish your assignments and show up for all team meetings.
  
  
• Listening
  Make sure you actively listen to all of your team members. Sometimes they share small details that may lead to success.
  
  
• Respect
  Treat your team members professionally and with respect. Do not allow small differences to keep you from working well with someone else.
  
  
• Be on time
  Show up at all your meetings at the time and place arranged. Your work will go faster if the team doesn't have to wait for people to show up.
  
  
• Writing
  Inform team members, management, and other workers of your own and your team's progress and findings. This is an important step in getting suggested solutions put into place.
  
  
• Openness
  Teams are more successful if they consider all the options without judging them immediately. Even wild ideas can be altered to become the winning solution. Many times the company sets up a team to look at new ways of doing things. Make sure you keep an open mind.
  
  
• Cooperation
  Team members should be willing to work jointly and together. One "glory hound" can bring down the team spirit and affect how successful that team will be.