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How To Establish Positive Co-Worker Relationships

Effective Management Skills

• Demonstrate professional behaviors at all times.
• Become informed about all agency policies that relate to interpersonal relationships on the job (i.e. sexual harassment, office dating, hiring of spouse, relatives, etc.).
• Conduct an assessment of your office/work environment to determine if there are ethics, values, or behavioral expectations which present challenges for the staff, especially the consumers who may work there.
• Maintain professional boundaries between job-related tasks & personal feelings & relationships (i.e. friendships, group affiliations such as church or fraternity, family members, etc.).
• Be willing to deal with issues in a mature, adult, professional manner.
• Be a leader in the process of identifying problems & creating solutions.
• Be careful to avoid stereotyped reactions to staff & clients/customers based upon superficial impressions or limited information.
• Communicate to all staff that they are welcome to come to management to discuss concerns about interpersonal relationships that are impacting job performance.

Suggestions for all Staff

• Keep your co-worker relationships professional.
• Treat each other with respect and courtesy.
• Focus on your work (specific tasks you have been told to do).
• Be pleasant with each other, but not too "familiar" (example: do not call each other dear, honey, sweetie, etc.).
• Do not joke around or play with each other like work is a playground.
• Do not discuss your personal business at work.
• Do not discuss other people’s personal business (example: repeating rumors).
• Do not date your co-worker (this creates problems and confusion in the work place).
• Understand the meaning of YES and NO and respect other people’s limits.
• Practice good communication skills.
• Talk to you immediate Supervisor for consultation and support when you have problems.
• If you get angry at work, do not curse, shout, or start a fight.

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