3 Great Reasons to Get to Know Your Co-workers - The Muse

3 Great Reasons to Get to Know Yur Co-workers - The Muse3 Great Reasons to Get to Know Your Co-workersYou know, of course, that every single one of your colleagues has a life outside the office. Some people are mora open to sharing details than others. In fact, many believe that a significant others job title, a childs acceptance into an elite university, an upcoming move to a new area of town, or even a simple weekend recap is information best kept to themselves.But I disagree- and I can make a strong case as to why getting to know your co-workers on a personal level is good for your career. 1. It Reduces StressOf the nine different teams that Ive worked on over the course of my professional career, Ive been open about my life outside the office with about half of them. My reason for evasion welches consistent the decision was always rooted in fear fear of judgment or rejection leading to some unforeseen negative consequence. I wondered if my teammates who were married with kids and living in the suburbs for the great school districts would relate to the new guy who moved in from out of town and lived in an apartment in the city with his girlfriend. If they didnt relate, would I be the team outcast? It may sound silly, but it was stressful stuff In hindsight, I can see that I was overthinking it. I didnt need to reveal every detail about my relationship with my partner- our ups and downs and everything in between- but I also didnt need to dwell in a place of secrecy. I think Id have experienced a lot less stress and anxiety on a daily basis if Id allowed myself some leeway, if Id been comfortable coming in after a tough weekend dealing with my noisy neighbors- rather than just stewing in my own bad mood and pretending like everything in my life was always great.2. Its RevealingWere all so much bigger than our 9-to-5 identities, so acting otherwise ultimately feels inauthentic. The truth is, our hobbies and interests tell others a lot about us. Perhaps you thri ve on weekends as a hostess who throws awesome get-togethers. Maybe youre a little league umpire, or a marathon runner. Whatever it is that you do when youre not working is a part of your character. When you can relate to your colleagues beyond spreadsheet data, status reports, and best hiring practices, you begin to see them as multi-dimensional, and this can help you work better as a team.Plus, it might be hard to see how your DIY house renovations could benefit your day job, but look a little more deeply, and youll see that the skills utilized in your recreational pursuits are often ones that youll call upon in some tangential way as you tackle assignments. For example, a person on your team whos super passionate about photography may be an asset when the company decides it needs to revamp all of its promotional marketing materials. The more people know about you, the more likely they are to call upon you to help with a new initiative or project.3. It Allows You to Leave With Sup portNo one has their entire career mapped out in front of them You could get laid off, fired, or decide to quit when you get passed over for a promotion. You could make a decision to find a new job when your boss leaves or when a particular co-worker becomes more than you can handle on a daily basis. The point is, theres a lot of professional unknowns.But if you form real relationships with people throughout your career, you never know how they may help you down the line. Instead of feeling like you have to build your network from scratch, youll have one in place should you need to relocate for your spouses job or get laid off If you proactively keep others up-to-date with whats going on in your life, who knows how they might be able to help you down the line when youre making a career transition. Individuals who you connect with on an intimate level are the ones wholl be more likely to serve as excellent job references, write LinkedIn recommendations for you, and enthusiastically i ntroduce you to their contacts.If youre ready to go beyond voreingestellt work talk, but arent sure how to do it (or dont want to commit to a weekly happy hour) consider striking up conversation in the kitchen or connecting on social media. You dont need to invite your entire team to your housewarming party or Facebook-friend every member of your department right away. Start off slow if this is unfamiliar territory for you. Grab a coffee with a colleague- not an hour-long lunch. Instead of making the first words out of your mouth on Monday morning, Did you get my email? try, How was your weekend? Do anything fun?Once I started opening up among my colleagues, work got better. We spend so much time at the office that it just makes sense to be your authentic self.