6 Ways to Be a Good Co-worker When Youre Busy - The Muse

6 Ways to Be a Good Co-worker When Youre Busy - The Muse6 Ways to Be a Good Co-worker When Youre BusyOne of the hardest things Ive come to realize recently is that sometimes, when Im overbooked and stressed, Im not the best friend or colleague. As I struggle to balance my hectic life, I find myself distant or half-listening when people are talking to me, cutting others off to discuss my own stresses, or not showing up to meetings Im expected to be at.And it pains me to see myself acting this way, because I care about the people I work with- not just as fellow employees, but as individuals whom I respect. Plus, I work hard to be a good co-worker and Id hate to lose that reputation over a couple stressful weeks. Is there a compromise? How can we be there for our colleagues when the world seems to be revolving (and falling apart) around us at the moment?After reading this great Fast Company article on how to be a better friend when youre swamped at work, I was inspired to come up with s ome easy solutions for busy co-workers as well. After all, you dont just want to be a good co-worker because its the right thing to do, but because when you reach out to someone for help, you want him or her to enthusiastically say, Yes Not to mention, its pretty nice to work alongside people who like you. 1. Really Be Present During BreaksI have a horrible habit of doing work through lunch, or worse, bringing my work to lunch. And it usually leads to me going through my inbox on my phone, unaware while others are chatting and laughing around me.But this time is supposed to be a break, so take it as a get-out-of-jail-free pass to set aside your assignments and your technology (yes, leave your phone on silent for 10 minutes- I promise nothing will implode while youre gone) and spend time with your co-workers talking about something unrelated to your to-do list. Give them your full attention and really listen to what theyre saying and how theyre feeling, and you might just pick up on some things you didnt notice before when you were distracted.Dont have lunch breaks? This goes for when you bump into someone in the kitchen or other common spaces, too. No matter how short your breaks are, use them. 2. Take a Few Seconds to Check InI have a friend who checks in on me daily with a simple Hey, how you doing today? text. Some days I message her back a long paragraph explaining my issues with several sad emojis, and other days I send a quick fine and the conversation ends there. But just having that reminder that someone is thinking about me and hoping Im doing OK is extremely reassuring, and I am grateful she hasnt stopped doing it yet (in fact, I look forward to it every morning).And this is why technologys a great thing Even if youre glued to your desk trying to complete some assignment, it takes you next to nothing to open up your companys group chat or send a quick Saw this article/GIF and thought of you message.3. Take Your Casual Moments More SeriouslyWhen I put something into my calendar, Im deciding for my future self that I must complete it. So, when Im really swamped but havent talked to someone in a while, my best bet is to schedule a time for us to sit down and grab a cup of coffee, or take a walk around the block, or meet for drinks after work. Maybe its only five minutes, or maybe its 30, but once I make that official, non-negotiable plan for myself, its easier for me to schedule around it like it was any other important meetings. This is me giving you permission not to feel guilty putting spend time with co-workers on your to-do list, schedule, or calendar. 4. Practice Random Acts of KindnessEven on my worst days, if one single person smiles at me, it can turn my whole day around. Thats it, and thats completely free. Random acts of kindness dont require you to buy someone a three-course lunch or a puppy (although a puppy is never a bad idea). It just means that you maybe pick up a coffee for your colleague when you go to get yours elf a cup, or draw your friend a cute picture on a sticky note and tape it to his computer monitor, or say hello to the new guy. And the best thing is that kindness is scientifically proven to be a two-way street- youre making someone elses day while also adding to your own sense of well-being.5. Only Make Promises You Can KeepOne mistake we often make during these stressful periods is to throw out vague promises for the future Ill see you at next week for drinks I swear Youll definitely get to tell me more about that meeting later, just not right now. Id love to help you on that, but how about possibly tomorrow? But what ends up happening is we dont follow through on them, usually because what we say is pretty noncommittal and therefore can be pushed off for a later time.Instead of just saying something to make someone happy, try to make promises you can actually keep- even if it means making a lot fewer promises. If you say youll go get drinks with someone, know a specific date yo u can actually go to happy hour and mark it into your calendar. If you can only afford to help a co-worker on a project for an hour, let him or her know thats how much youll be willing to do. People will forgive you if you can only give so much out of your day, but they are less likely to forgive you if youre constantly flaking.6. Pick and Choose Who You Spend Your Time OnTheres no way you can be a true and constant friend for every single employee in the office, but you can pick and choose who you want to be there for. And offering help and support to people who wont appreciate it or will brush you off is exhausting and unproductive, especially when you have so many other things to do, so be honest with yourself and decide how and with whom youll spend whatever leftover energy you have.Being a good co-worker doesnt mean you have to drop everything. But, if you care enough about it, it can be worth it to take some time out of your day to let others know that your relationship hasnt gotten lost in the pile of to-dos.