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There are several things that you need to do at work in order to get the most of your relationships. One of the most important things that you can do is listen. Listening shows others that you are actively involved in what is going on, and that you are able to understand what is happening. If you fall asleep in a meeting, or keep forgetting what is going on, it will cause a lot of tension. Even day to day stuff will be difficult to keep up with if you don't listen. It will just frustrate people, and you won't be liked at work.

Running a business takes a lot of effective communication. You can't communicate with people unless they are listening to the messages that you are sending. If I tell you to make five copies, and someone only brings you one because they didn't listen, it makes life hard. I have to go back, and make more copies, and the presentation could be stalled, and the whole time might look bad because of it. Certainly not a good way to impress your co-workers.

Even in retail it is important to listen to your co-workers. I am constantly working with people, and without effective communication, there is going to be chaos. When you need to get out three breaks in twenty minutes, and you have people coming and going, it takes a lot of listening to get things done. Throw in the fact that one person might be on the Front End, and others might be in the store helping a customer, and you can get mixed up easily. You really have to listen, and plan, and make sure that everyone understands what is going on.

For example, there were two people that needed breaks in a half hour span. I told my co-worker that two people needed breaks, and that since we had one person coming in, that they could go on for one of the breaks. Instead of listening to me, he just says "huh, who is going to remember that?" So we wrote it down, because the benefit of the doubt should be given, and then I went to lunch. When I came back from lunch, there was nothing done. I had to scramble to cram breaks in, and get everything organized again, and all during late afternoon.

This is important because late afternoon-early evening is a very busy time. We don't need to get out late breaks, and then have to worry about the people who needed breaks later. I was a little upset only because it put us off-stride. Listening to your co-workers is so important because when you work as a team everyone has to be on the same page. Even the smallest missteps, or ignoring someone altogether can cause tension. If you listen, people will respect you more because they know they can count on you to do the job right.

If you want to be liked at work, you should learn how to listen. Listening shows understanding, and helps to encourage team building. If people know that you listen, they will be encouraged to talk to you. People will trust that they can tell you something and you will follow through. It just helps the team, and makes the job easier when you listen, and it shows that you care.

Learn more about this author, Cody Hodge.
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