Julie Jaqua has found herself in a rare situation: She and her
coworkers love going to work each day at GCI Group, a public
relations agency in Los Angeles.
The environment is warm and friendly, yet professional. Even as an
intern, everyone treated me with tremendous respect," she says.
"This creates such a wonderful environment that even with the
stress and difficult tasks, I enjoy my work and learn new
skills."
Most of us are not as lucky. But we can all survive and thrive in
the office without a friendly, supportive work environment. Here's
how.
Forget About Fate
Don't leave anything in your career to chance. Put together a
profile of your ideal career and employer. Andrea Kay, a career
consultant and executive coach in Cincinnati, recommends including
your ideal corporate structure, management styles, industry and
corporate values.
Speak Up
Don't wait for your employer to initiate discussions about job
performance and expectations. "Check in regularly," Kay says. "Find
out how you're doing and if your manager's expectations are the
same ones you're working on."
Foster Relationships
The better you get along with coworkers, the easier your job will
be and the better you'll perform. "It's much easier to work with
folks if you get along," says Lisa O'Neill, a public relations
account executive at Trinity Communications in Boston. Make an
effort to put aside personal differences for the sake of your
working relationship.
Give Credit
Give coworkers and subordinates credit for their contributions.
Dick Lyles, author of Winning Ways: Four Secrets for Getting Great
Results by Working Well with People, says that competition with
coworkers can be fatal. "Embrace this attitude: I win only if you
win, and we all win together," he says.
Keep Learning
A static knowledge base quickly becomes outdated and worthless. "Be
sure you're in a job where you're going to keep learning," says
Anne Pauker, president of The Pauker Consulting Group, a human
resources consultancy in Princeton Junction, New Jersey.
Find a Mentor
There's no substitute for the wisdom of others. Pair up with
someone who has the skills and insight you need. "That's not
necessarily an all-perfect or influential person," says Pauker.
"It's someone who can help you learn what you need to get
ahead."
Balance Yourself
Living and breathing your job is a sure-fire path to failure.
You'll burn out quickly if you don't maintain a healthy balance
between your work and personal lives. Be clear with your boss about
your personal obligations, and don't let work take precedence over
them.
Have Fun
Organize after-hours activities for you and your coworkers. The
chance to interact on a nonwork level can strengthen your working
relationships. Some companies, like GCI, have social committees
that plan events each quarter. Jaqua says that jazz concerts,
dinner or special events are great ways to relieve work-related
stress at GCI.
Control the Damage
Most of us will fail at some point in our careers. Some of us will
get fired. Don't despair, says Kay. Be honest about your share of
the blame and take away a few lessons. "Create a list of lessons
that you may have learned from the situation," she says.
Pursue Your Passion
If you love what you do, you'll do it well. "If I don't feel
passionate about something, I don't have time to do it," says
Pauker. "That's the filter I use." Be just as selective; choose a
career and a job that you know will be personally fulfilling.
