Why likeable colleagues land more job promotions

Most of us know we have to impress the boss, but there are also benefits to being liked by colleagues. Find out what makes a good workmate.

Everybody loves a colleague who bakes but good old-fashioned hard work is the secret ingredient for Australians looking to win over their teammates.

More than half of Australian workers (53 per cent) say great work ethic is the number one quality of a good colleague, a Twitter poll by SEEK reveals.

This is more valued than someone who looks out for others (22 per cent), has great social skills (15 per cent) or brings in treats (10 per cent).

Gina Brooks, director of Training X Design, says the best colleagues “do their work and do it well” by keeping promises, committing to team outcomes and taking change in their stride.

Apart from creating a more pleasant working environment, she says workers should ensure they are liked by colleagues for the sake of their personal brand.

Training x Design’s Gina Brooks says being likeable also contributes to a worker’s personal brand. Picture: Supplied

“Think about how people talk about you in the workplace,” she says.

“If you are the sort of person that wants to be successful in your career, the research shows (employers) are more likely to award (leadership) roles to the happier person who is more liked.”

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Brooks cites research from The Happiness Advantage which finds 75 per cent of job success is predicted not by intelligence but by optimism, social support networks and the ability to manage stress in a positive way.

“When your brain is in a positive mindset it performs 31 per cent more productively and a lot of that has to do with the people you work with,” she says.

“People will say ‘I just go to work and do my thing, I’m not going to make friends’ but they are shooting themselves in the foot because that’s a great source of support.”

SEEK resident psychologist Sabina Read says some people spend too much energy thinking about what others can do for them rather than how they can support others.

“Even the smallest gestures can light up another person, making the workplace more fun, harmonious and connected, which impacts productivity and satisfaction; resulting in a win-win for all stakeholders,” she says.

Sabina Read says workers should think about what they can do for their colleagues. Picture: Supplied.

Read encourages workers to make simple changes to become a better colleague.

“Get to know something about each of your colleagues beyond the role that they are employed to do, and be prepared to share something of yourself,” she says.

“Look for things colleagues do well and let them know, no matter how small; be open and responsive to each others’ needs; don’t let conflict fester – when differences arise, acknowledge them rather than leaving them unspoken; and support each other’s goals and aspirations.”

Tamara Hilton at Highgrove Bathrooms, East Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

Highgrove Bathrooms East Brisbane’s Tamara Hilton won the company’s 2018 People’s Choice Award for her region, naming her the most popular colleague.

She sees the award as an acknowledgment of her efforts to ensure all of her interactions with other staff members are positive and helpful.

“I will go out of my way for other people,” she says.

“For me to succeed, everyone around me needs to succeed also.”

Hilton, a customer service and sales consultant, had previous careers in beauty therapy and the education sector, working as a youth engagement officer responsible for monitoring and re-engaging students who are not participating as much as they are legally obliged.

“(Through this experience) I learnt how to deal with people from completely different demographics,” she says.

“(At Highgrove Bathrooms) this helps me to understand where customers are coming from and make their experience a better experience.

“The best part of my job is the interactions with people. I am very much a people person.”

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