by Dale Dolmo

Created on: February 22, 2011   Last Updated: May 08, 2012

If you have a job you like and want to keep, you need not only the approval of your boss, but also the respect and support of your fellow employees. Even people who hate their jobs usually want the people they work with to think well of them. You can't guarantee that all your colleagues will like you, but a few rules can help to keep you in their good books.

Do your job.
Don't neglect your job duties. Any work that you fail to get done will end up being a burden passed along to someone else. The fastest way to lose the respect of co-workers is to become known as the office slacker, so make sure you are pulling your weight. Everyone needs a little help now and then, but others shouldn't have to do half your job for you.

Help other people when you can.
Speaking of needing help around the office, pitch in when you see that one of your co-workers is buried under a mountain of work. Offering to assist someone when you have some extra time shows that you are a team player. You'll not only win the gratitude of the co-worker you helped, you'll become thought of as the kind of person who can be relied on. Just make sure you don't neglect your own work because you'd rather help someone else with theirs.

Don't gossip.
One of the things people like to do most around an office is gossip. Ironically, however, if you are the person who regular starts the gossip rolling, your co-workers will tend to think less of you, even though they enjoy the "entertainment" of listening to the rumors. They may stop and gab with you, but rest assured, they don't trust you - nor do they respect you. Avoid telling tales about other people, whether true or not. Even if you're a great person in other ways, being the office gossip reflects very badly on you.

Don't hog all the credit.
You want your achievements to be recognized, but remember that others are doing their part as well. Don't grab all the limelight for a project that was a joint effort. When you forget to acknowledge the work that others have contributed, you are going to lose the respect of co-workers quickly. On the other hand, pointing out the hard work and helpfulness of your colleagues makes you look good at the same time that you are making them look good. Co-workers think highly of you if you are not shy about expressing a high opinion of them.

Don't run to the boss.
Conflicts arise in every workplace, and most of the time you should be able to resolve them without complaining to the higher-ups. If you head for your supervisor's office every time you are dissatisfied with something or have a difference of opinion with someone in the your department, you will quickly drain away your co-worker's respect for you. Only in cases where repeated attempts to work something out have failed should you seek the intervention of management. Going to the boss over every single thing makes you look like a little child tattling to the teacher. That is not the kind of impression you want to make on your colleagues - or on your boss, for that matter.

The key to winning the respect of your co-workers is to do what you would do to earn anyone's respect. Act like an adult, and be honest and dependable. Don't expect others to do your work for you or fix your problems for you. Cooperate and show that you think of yourself as part of a team, not the star of the show. If you do these simple things, your fellow employees will consider you someone they are happy to work with, and someone they are proud to know.

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