A good coworker can be a huge blessing. One might take it for granted, but that shouldn’t be the case. Not everyone is fortunate enough to work with nice people. Since so many people spend a large part of their day at work, having empathetic people around you can make a difference.
No one knows what silent battles anyone may be facing. If you have supportive coworkers, acknowledge and appreciate them. If you don’t, here are a few tips on becoming more supportive and hopefully enjoying the good karma. Changing your behaviors is a great way to change the culture around you.
1. Be Reliable During Tough Times
If you find out someone at work is ill, try to be there for them without being overly curious. Please don’t ask them too many personal questions about the illness. They will share what they want — when they want, so don’t push. It’s probably best to hold off on volunteering homemade concoctions to cure illnesses, too. It may have worked for your grandmother, but you don’t want to risk any reactions from others.
However, there are several things that you can do to offer support. Being reliable is one way to be there for someone you care about. If you offer to pick up a shift for a coworker who is down with the flu, make sure you are there on time. If you are covering for someone, they must trust you to do the job reliably. If you cannot take on extra work, you could send a get-well care package or flowers instead. Receiving balloons, a meal, or treats can make someone feel better while recovering.
2. Radiate Positivity During Good Times
Just like you’d like to be there for a coworker during a rough patch, try to celebrate their milestones, too. It doesn’t have to be very extravagant or elaborate. Someone might have passed a tough exam or had a baby recently. Others might have gotten married or bought their first home. You don’t always have to shell out money to congratulate someone, which can add up quickly. However, a nice card or even a proverbial pat on the back with some kind words makes a difference.
Sometimes, people hesitate to share any good news because they might feel others could become jealous and don’t want to deal with the negative energy. Try to counter that by being genuinely happy for someone. Even if a coworker got the promotion you were eyeing, saying congratulations will not hurt you. Learn from that employee to see how they earned the new role. It might even motivate you to work harder.
3. Be Inclusive During Holidays
Your office might have a beautiful Christmas tree up all December. Usually, that should be no issue, as it is the general holiday season. However, if some employees celebrate other holidays, try to accommodate those too whenever possible. Some holidays, like Halloween, fall on the same date each year. However, celebrations like Diwali, Hanukkah, and Ramadan move around the calendar.
If several coworkers celebrate Diwali, ask ahead of time and see if they would like to plan a lunch. The office could order traditional food from a nearby Indian restaurant, and employees could bring in some décor to share. They could also bring in some henna tattoos to try in the lunchroom. These are just a few ways to break the monotony of a workday and get to know one another a little better.
If people want to share more about their holiday, allow them to do so. Just make sure it doesn’t bring down any other nationality, faith, or cultural group. Promoting diversity and inclusion during holidays can be an important stepping stone in building a tolerant world. On the flip side, some employees may want to keep their faith practices private. They may not want to share their beliefs and celebrations, and respecting that is a form of support, too.
4. Be Empathetic Throughout the Year
Being there for someone during holidays or a rough patch is very thoughtful. However, if someone is empathetic, it should reflect in their personality all through the year. Many people may pitch in for a meal train when someone is diagnosed with cancer. However, there might be fewer supporters for regular, everyday challenges like managing boisterous kids and aging parents.
One often doesn’t have to do much to be supportive. Just listening attentively can be a great start. Please don’t listen to chime in or compete with complaints to challenge who has it worse. Please don’t make it into a competition. Don’t say, “Back in the day, raising kids was much harder.” Everyone has a right to process their lives how they need to.
If you want to offer some help or suggestions, put it in the first person. Craft your response so it seems like this is what you would do. Don’t tell others how to be the perfect parent or spouse. Try to include actionable suggestions. For instance, share how you save time and money by having your groceries delivered to your doorstep.
Being a supportive coworker doesn’t need training or degrees. It just requires a kind heart and some empathy. Never underestimate the impact of one small, good deed. The ripple effects can be very powerful. By looking out for people around you, you can make the work environment — and the world — a little better place.
