How to get more of what you need from others you work with
Q: How can I get more of what I need from others I work with?
ACE advises: Frequently, deliberate time is not given to clarifying expectations between peers, bosses and those who report to us. The problems this generates are magnified by growing flexibility in the workplace, more remote relationships and situations with overlapping responsibilities.
Often, we learn what others need from us and what we need from others based only on time, experiences together, and from working through problems and difficulties when they occur. No working relationship should be based only on a process of experience and discovery.
- Take time for a deliberate and serious conversation in which both individuals, including boss-subordinate relationships, or all team members make some notes about what they need from one another and then talk openly and directly. This becomes the basis for a sort of work contract, though it is not carved in stone and should be revisited periodically.
- Address topics like how we communicate, what we need from one another in order to meet our responsibilities, how we support one another, how we exchange feedback, how we prefer to address problems and differences when they occur, etc.
Talking about this up-front can accelerate a good working relationship and create the basis for effective interactions through which everyone gets more of what they need to do their jobs effectively.
John Shorb is principal and co-founder of The Delphi Group Inc. in Portland.
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