No Interest in Coworkers
Many of us spend a major part of our productive time at work. Very few of us are hired as the only employee in a company. The ability to work in a team is now demanded as an important basic requirement in most job postings. For most of us, work consists to a very large extent of communication, coordinating tasks, information, and clarifying hierarchies. How we deal with colleagues, our own style, our own personality play a very big role in shaping this work successfully. Besides all these qualities, however, one basic requirement isn't always met: interest. Having no interest in coworkers can therefore be a big disadvantage when it comes to doing your own work as well as possible.[caption id="attachment_680" align="alignright" width="300"]
No interest in coworkers[/caption]
Interest Doesn't Come by Itself
Studies have shown that likability between conversation partners arises most readily when both hold the same opinions and confirm each other's judgments. In a work environment made up of different people with different interests and preferences, likability won't automatically be there. Fortunately, likability is not the same as interest. If I have no interest in my coworkers, I can easily help things along: I measure my interest not by likability, but by the need to get information. Friendliness can be very important here. Friendliness doesn't mean the same thing as likability. Friendliness is not a matter of inner attitude, but of form.
What to Do About Interest in Coworkers
First ask yourself: what does interest mean to me personally, and what does interest mean in dealing with colleagues. You'll quickly find that the word
"interest" has quite different meanings here depending on the situation. Each of us wants to be shown interest. Interest doesn't just mean what can I do to get from others what I want, but what can I do so that the person across from me feels good in the process. There are two basic rules here.
Look Them in the Eye
If I have no interest in coworkers, I'll tend to ignore them, not want to notice them, and not even give them a glance when I have to speak to them. That's not a good method of communication. Regardless of how interested in the other person you really are: look at them when you speak to them, and the longer you keep up eye contact, the better, in every case.
Smiling Never Hurts
Don't tense up - but always keep a friendly expression. It's enough to relax and raise your eyebrows and the corners of your mouth ever so slightly. When you now speak with your colleagues, you'll definitely be shown interest in return. And that works even if you aren't interested in your coworkers.
