UNIT 5

Team Work and Communication

Dr. Mohammad Sultan Alam (M.Tech, Ph.D)
Assistant Professor Gr 2

School of Computing Science and Engineering

VIT Bhopal University
E-mail: [email protected]
 Course Code: NAS1001

Course Title: NASSCOM Future Skills - Associative Data Analyst

Course Type: LTP (Lecture-Tutorial-Practical)

Credits: 4

Syllabus

Venue : AB007

30-04-2024
 UNIT 5 - Team Work and Communication
Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately - Work with
colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them - Pass on essential
information to colleagues in line with organizational requirements - Work in
ways that show respect for colleagues - carry out commitments they have made
to colleagues - Let colleagues know in good time if they cannot carry out their
commitments, explaining the reasons - Identify any problems they have working
with colleagues and take the initiative to solve these problems

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 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and
accurately

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 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately

Communicating effectively with your colleagues minimizes misunderstandings and

maximizes work efficiency.

Effective communication also produces healthy working relationships, and allows you

and your colleagues to resolve issues in a collaborative manner.

This will in turn create a more fun and less stressful work environment.

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 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately
Ways to communicate better with your colleagues at work:

Listen Actively

• Listening actively shows that you’re interested in what your colleague has to say and that you
respect them.

• Listen to them closely, orienting your body towards them, and look at them directly as they
speak.

• While they’re talking, don’t interrupt them. You’ll only be able to understand what they’re trying
to say if you listen to them closely and wait for them to finish speaking before you reply.

• Then ask questions to clarify any issues you may have.

• Most importantly, don’t email or text while someone’s talking to you.

 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately
Speak with discretion and talk face to face

• Speaking with discretion prevents any misunderstandings with your colleagues.

• Face to face communication helps with building trust and openness, and it enables you to sense and
understand someone’s viewpoint and feelings.

• Also talk face to face to resolve disagreements or fix complex problems, and use clear, friendly and
polite language.

Offer Constructive Criticism

• When giving feedback, leave your personal feelings out of it and make sure your workmate fully
understands what you’re telling them.

• If someone did a great job, offer positive reinforcement and also give them improvement tips
without being mean or bossy.
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 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately
Build and Earn Trust

• For effective communication to occur, everyone must trust and respect each other.

• To build trust with your colleagues, it’s important that you act consistently and with integrity.

• To earn their trust, communicate clearly, collaboratively and confidentially with them while
showing them respect.

• Clear and concise communication will allow your colleagues to understand and then trust you.

• As a result, there will be more cooperation and less conflict in the workplace.

• Your main objective for communicating with colleagues is to lay the foundations for trust.

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 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately
Get personal but don’t be too casual
• Get to know your colleagues better by talking about your personal lives during breaks
or after work. This is also a good way to build trust.

• However, it’s important that you don’t get too casual in your conversations, especially
in the office, as it might make the other person uncomfortable.

• Make sure that all communications, including your work emails, phone calls and
meetings are professional, and avoid using offensive language in the office.

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 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately
Consider communication preference and technology etiquette

• Some people like communicating via email while others prefer talking on the phone, texting,
or using social media or instant messaging.

• Use the method of contact that the other person prefers. If someone doesn’t answer a call
but responds quickly to an email, then use email to contact them. However, using email and
social media makes it hard to determine the tone of a message. To avoid misunderstandings, it
can sometimes be better to speak face to face.

• If you won’t be in the office for a long time, set up an automated message letting your
colleagues know that you’re not in the office and when to expect a reply from you, or who
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can contact when you’re away.
 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately
Tell them how what you’re communicating is relevant to them

• Your communication is only relevant if it’s related to what the other person wants,
needs, fears or desires.

• Figure out how what you’ll say or write is relevant to your colleague and then tell them
about it.

• If what you’re communicating is indeed relevant to them, then it will keep them
listening to or reading what you’re trying to say.

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 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately
Keep spoken and written communications short, simple and direct

• Don’t expect your colleague to listen to and read everything that you’re trying to tell them
because there’s just not enough hours in the day.

• Try to avoid giving them complex explanations and recommendations with the expectation
they will understand everything straight away. It’s best to keep your communications short,
simple and direct.

• It’s also advised that you keep emails to one or two paragraphs to prevent people from
becoming bored and skipping over the most important part of the message.

• If you do have a lot of information to cover use bullet points or subheadings to make the
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easy to scan for recipients.
 Communicate with colleagues clearly, concisely and accurately
Keep spoken and written communications short, simple and direct

• Overall, when communicating with your colleagues you should maintain confidentiality, and
treat them as you’d like to be treated.

• It’s also important to have open lines of communication between colleagues to better serve
each other.

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Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with
them

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 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
Knowing when and how to offer support to colleagues at work can be a challenge, but helping others
encourages a collaborative work environment.

Communicate often

• Communicating with colleagues helps build a relationship and can inspire teamwork. Here are ways to
establish good communication:

Greet coworkers: Say hello to your colleagues when you see them. Make an effort to acknowledge them.

Check in: Ask how your colleagues are feeling and how their day is going.

Listen: Pay attention to what they say.

Make eye contact: Maintaining eye contact is important for respectful communication.

Show Respect: Be respectful of boundaries and be conscious of how you behave when communicating.
 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
Communicate often

• Consider establishing a channel or method by which communication is easy and comfortable

for all team members such as a social media group, a work app for an employee chat or you
could schedule weekly meetings.

Example:

You can install a team app on every work computer to provide easy contact among all
employees and encourage colleagues to share about their work progress.

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 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
Recognize their challenges

• Be aware of your surroundings at work and try to notice what may cause a colleague to struggle.

• You can ask how you can be of help when you see they are dealing with a challenge. Use your own
experience to help recognize when others are struggling.

• For example, when there is a new colleague starting at the company where you work, consider
what challenged you when you first started working there and see if you can offer help with
orientation tasks.

Example: If you notice a colleague is stressed and working hard to meet a deadline, stop by their
desk and ask if there is anything you can do to help. Listening to their concerns can show empathy
and help them feel less stressed.
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 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
Volunteer your time

• If you notice a colleague needs help or has a large workload, offer to help them complete
some tasks.

• Sometimes offering moral support is enough if you do not have time or are not permitted to
help with their work tasks.

Example:

Your colleague may be responsible for contacting clients.

If your company policy does not allow you to speak with the clients in your assigned job role,
you can offer support to your colleague by bringing a coffee to their desk while they make
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calls.
 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
Give advice

• Giving advice is a great way to offer support to your colleagues at work.

• Draw on your experience with the company and from your own job duties to advise other team
members. Use these tips to help guide your advice:

Ask: Before offering advice, be sure it is something your colleague wants.

Be kind: Try not to judge your colleague, and give advice that is kind and helpful.

Be honest: Honesty helps ensure that the advice you give is helpful.

Listen: Hear what your colleague has to say and pay attention to how they respond to your advice.

Collaborate: When giving advice, try to find a solution together to fix the colleague's problem.
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 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
• Constructive criticism is a form of advice appropriate and often encouraged at work.

• Providing colleagues with useful feedback on their work helps them to improve and may
increase productivity at work.

Example:

If there is a new colleague starting at the company, offer to give them an office tour and share
your tips on how to be most efficient while at work.

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 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
Build a relationship

• Building a relationship with your colleagues at work can prepare you to support each other
when needed.

• Take the time to learn about your colleagues' interests, since these can be topics to talk about
when establishing daily communication.

• Be aware of professional boundaries, but try to be friendly with all of your colleagues. This can
help establish a collaborative environment to work in.

Example:

Establish a weekly email for featuring a colleague where they can share their hobbies with
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colleagues.
 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
Offer praise

• Acknowledging achievements can show colleagues that you care.

• You can praise your colleagues for minor accomplishments to boost their confidence and show

that you appreciate them.

Example:

 Assign a space in the office where colleagues can write messages to congratulate each other

and recognize their accomplishments.

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 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
Perform an act of kindness

Doing something kind and unexpected can improve someone's day. Here are examples of acts of
kindness for colleagues:

• Bring in donuts.

• Get everyone a coffee.

• Submit positive feedback to the manager.

• Take a colleague to lunch.

• Leave a kind note on their desk.

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 Work with colleagues to integrate their work effectively with them
Organize a group lunch

• Organizing a lunch for your team is a great opportunity to talk and offer support and can be an
effective exercise to develop teamwork skills.

Inspire positivity

• Inspire positivity in the workplace by maintaining a friendly attitude. Your good mood may
encourage a colleague's mood, and this can help improve the overall work environment.

• Remaining self-aware and checking your own emotions can be key to promoting a healthy and
stable workplace.

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 Pass on essential information to colleagues in line with
organizational requirements

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 Pass on essential information to colleagues in line with organizational requirements
Principle of Clarity:
• The idea or message to be communicated should be clearly spelt out.

• It should be worded in such a way that the receiver understands the same thing which the
sender wants to convey. There should be no ambiguity in the message.

• It should be kept in mind that the words do not speak themselves but the speaker gives them
the meaning.

• A clear message will evoke the same response from the other party.

• It is also essential that the receiver is conversant with the language, inherent assumptions,
and the mechanics of communication.
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 Pass on essential information to colleagues in line with organizational requirements
Principle of Attention:

• In order to make communication effective, the receiver’s attention should be drawn towards
message.

• People are different in behavior, attention, emotions etc. so they may respond differently to
the message.

• Subordinates should act similarly as per the contents of the message.

• The acts of a superior also draw the attention of subordinates and they may follow what they
observe.

• For example, if a superior is very punctual in coming to the office then subordinates will also
develop such habits. It is said that ‘actions speak louder than words.
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 Pass on essential information to colleagues in line with organizational requirements
Principle of Feedback:

• The principle of feedback is very important to make the communication effective.

• There should be a feedback information from the recipient to know whether he has
understood the message in the same sense in which the sender has meant it.

Principle of Timeliness:

• This principle states that communication should be done at proper time so that it helps in
implementing plans.

• Any delay in communication may not serve any purpose rather decisions become of historical

importance only.
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 Pass on essential information to colleagues in line with organizational requirements
Principle of Informality

• Formal communication is generally used for transmitting messages and other information.

• Sometimes formal communication may not achieve the desired results, informal
communication may prove effective in such situations.

• Management should use informal communication for assessing the reaction of employees
towards various policies.

• Senior management may informally convey certain decisions to the employees for getting
their feedback.

• So this principle states that informal communication is as important as formal communication.

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 Pass on essential information to colleagues in line with organizational requirements

Principle of Consistency:

• This principle states that communication should always be consistent with the
policies, plans, programmes and objectives of the organization and not in
conflict with them.

• If the messages and communications are in conflict with the policies and
programmes then there will be confusion in the minds of subordinates and they
may not implement them properly.

• Such a situation will be detrimental to the interests of the organization.

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 Pass on essential information to colleagues in line with organizational requirements

Principle of Adequacy:

• The information communicated should be adequate and complete in all respects

• Inadequate information may delay action and create confusion.

• Inadequate information also affects efficiency of the receiver.

• So adequate information is essential for taking proper decisions and making

action plans.

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 Work in ways that show respect for colleagues

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 Work in ways that show respect for colleagues

Showing respect for colleagues in the workplace can go a long way toward

ensuring a healthy, productive workplace dynamic.

From professional interactions and clear communications to sharing credit and

shouldering workloads, there are numerous ways to demonstrate a respectful

attitude in the office.

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 Work in ways that show respect for colleagues
Respect Time and Space

• Between packed work schedules and tight spaces, respect for time and space carries a high value
in the modern workplace. You can show your colleagues respect in the following ways:

• Don’t monopolize time, especially with gossip or idle chit chat.

• When a door is closed or a colleague is on the phone or with a client or colleague, don’t interrupt.

• Keep shared workplaces clean and tidy.

• Avoid bringing strong scents into the workplace, like a heavy perfume, candles or pungent foods.

• Keep noise to a minimum. Avoid loud talking, laughing, food smacking, humming or allowing
music to permeate others' workspaces.

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 Work in ways that show respect for colleagues
Stay Professional at All Times

• Even though colleagues often become friendly with one another, maintain a professional
distance so personal and work lives don’t intersect to an inappropriate level.

• Avoid making overly personal statements about appearance.

• Refrain from giving colleagues nicknames or pet names.

• Avoid personal physical contact beyond a handshake or pat on the back, simply to avoid the
potential for misconstrued intentions.

• Don't talk down to colleagues or place them in subservient roles.

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 Work in ways that show respect for colleagues
Participate in Team Initiatives

• Nothing shows greater respect for your colleagues than treating them as professionals and
collaborating on shared work projects.

• Being a contributing member of a work team and working in tandem toward common goals
shows you have a respect for your work and that of your co-workers.

• Contribute to discussion and debate.

• Acknowledge exceptional ideas and accomplishments.

• Share credit where it’s due.

• Support others when they take on leadership roles.

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 Work in ways that show respect for colleagues
Don’t Overstep

• Use caution to not overstep personal or professional boundaries with your colleagues.

• It's unprofessional, it can make the work environment uncomfortable and it can even lead to
charges of harassment or inappropriate behavior.

• Don’t comment on personal life issues or choices

• Avoid prying into personal business.

• Don’t offer unsolicited advice.

• Don’t guilt co-workers into buying products or participating in sales parties.

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 Work in ways that show respect for colleagues
Avoid Gossip

• It’s easy for office places to get mired in gossip, particularly when the organization is undergoing
change. Have respect for your colleagues by avoiding speculation or the spread of unsubstantiated
information.

• Don’t talk about potential reprimands or terminations.

• Steer clear of discussing suspected office romances.

• Avoid talking about salaries and raises.

• If you have an issue, bring it directly to your colleague, or to a supervisor if mediation is required.

• You can also show colleagues respect by completing shared work product well, and on time, offering
support when someone is overloaded and serving in a mentoring role for up-and-coming colleagues.
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 Carry out commitments they have made to colleagues

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 Carry out commitments they have made to colleagues

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 Carry out commitments they have made to colleagues
Loyalty and the workplace

• Establishing your loyalty to your specific industry and workplace are important steps for career
advancement.

• Dedication and initiative in the workplace will cause stronger relationships at work and may
result in better overall performance.

• Showing your commitment to success at work gains the trust and respect of management and
can position you for possible leadership positions and career advancement opportunities.

• Let’s explore what commitment at work is, why it is important to professional success, and
some steps you can take to show your level of commitment at work.

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Why is commitment at work important?

• Commitment at work is important because employers often seek individuals who will help a company or
organization succeed and take an active role in ensuring company success through their own professional
development efforts and dedication.

• A consistent workforce with low employee turnover allows a company to invest in its employees by providing
quality professional development opportunities and creating a positive company culture. Your enthusiasm for
your job and workplace will help secure your role at a company and establish you as a dependable employee that
will support the company’s long-term vision, mission, and goals.

• The credibility you gain from showing commitment at work establishes you as a valuable employee, highlights
your strengths, and can gain your supervisor’s attention to position yourself for a promotion within your
company. You can also use the skills you hone from showing workplace commitment on your resume as evidence
of transferable skills to help you change careers. Harness your skills to develop your career path.
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 Carry out commitments they have made to colleagues
How to show your commitment at work

• Your commitment to your workplace and industry will be clear in your daily actions, workplace
behavior, willingness to help, and in the quality of your work. There are steps you can take at work to
show you are a valuable and dedicated employee. Consider implementing these steps into your work
routine to show your level of commitment at work and create opportunities for advancement.

Be punctual

• Punctuality shows professionalism and demonstrates your time management skills. Arriving to work on
time emphasizes that you prioritize your work and make an effort to be prepared to delivery quality
work daily. You set goals to be efficient and productive at your job in order to give the company your
best performance. Meeting deadlines at work shows you value the time you have dedicated to
succeeding and use organizational methods that facilitate in your efforts at completing tasks.
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Show confidence
• Although acknowledging that learning is a continuous process and a growth
mindset is crucial to upward mobility, asserting your abilities and being confident
in your skills reveals you’re committed to the job and are self-assured.

• Believing in your skills is key because you will communicate more effectively,
speak your mind more concisely, and developed strong work-related
goals aligning yourself with your long-term efforts for career success.

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Be a team player

• It is becoming more and more important in today’s job market and career trends to work
efficiently with others.

• Cooperative work benefits the company through capitalizing on individual strengths and
providing opportunities for each worker to learn from one another.

• Through teamwork, employees share the workload and reduce work-related stress.

• Working on a team also improves productivity as each member is working towards a common
goal, with the joint efforts resulting in higher quality output.

• The positive company culture created through teamwork encourages members to celebrate
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other’s accomplishments and motivates them.
 carry out commitments they have made to colleagues
Request Evaluations

• Another way to show your commitment at work is to ask for feedback on your performance.

• Although most organizations have a formal evaluation process, asking for feedback, even
informally, can prove that your commitment to your industry and are making efforts to
improve the hard skills associated with your job.

• Both supervisors and coworkers can offer insight into ways you can improve that you may miss
through self-evaluation.

• You can use this constructive criticism to take initiative and work on honing your skills.

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Listen to suggestions

• Once you have asked for ways to improve, follow up and make sure you take that advice.

• Although you may find that some information and criticism does not apply, use what you can
to increase your productivity and efficiency at work.

• This establishes you value the opinions of others and you trust their views. Your dedication to
improvement and regard for their input.

• You develop emotional growth and build a good rapport.

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Show leadership skills

• Some most sought-after leadership skills are empathy, active listening,

decisiveness, and flexibility.

• Using your leadership skills and strategic thinking skills enable you to guide
others and work collaboratively and creatively to solve problems and complete
tasks.

• The leadership skills gain the trust of others and show you have the
resourcefulness to take on additional responsibilities and dedication to follow
through.
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 carry out commitments they have made to colleagues
Recognize others:

• When you recognize others for their efforts and achievements, you validate their
contributions and encourage them to better themselves.

• Investing in the successes and professional development of others is a dedication to purpose

within your industry, and shows you value your team members.

• They will reciprocate this support for you and you will gain credibility in the workplace.

• You understand when one member of the team progresses the team benefits.

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Be optimistic

• An optimistic approach to work in your profession shows genuine job fulfillment and purpose.
Having a positive outlook encourages others to seek you out and proves your resolve and
dedication to your profession.

• A positive attitude at work promotes an atmosphere of high energy where creativity and
inspiration thrive and support problem-solving skills.

• If faced with an obstacle, it is best to approach it optimistically, learn all you can, and weigh
each option.

• Arming yourself with all the information possible and the support of your coworkers will
produce the best results possible.
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Share ideas

• Through the transferring of information, you can build professional bonds and become a
resource for others who need support.

• Sharing ideas provides an opportunity for you to highlight your critical thinking skills and show
you have valuable knowledge about your work.

• Take part in conversations to discuss processes at work and relate your ideas on how to
improve procedures or capitalize on unused resources.

• Having perceptive ideas that might improve the company or culture shows your investment in
the organization and the people who work there.

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Take initiative

• Taking initiative shows the drive and leadership skills necessary for workplace success. Initiative is
a leadership skill that proves your commitment to reach goals through your actions and
dedication.

• Acting upon your vision at work will serve as an example to your coworkers that creativity can
advance a team.

• Having the skills and abilities necessary to succeed at work will enable you to secure a position
that fits your needs.

• However, showing your commitment at work will facilitate in creating healthy and lasting
professional relationships for better workplace satisfaction and the opportunity for promotions.
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 Let colleagues know in good time if they cannot carry out
their commitments, explaining the reasons

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 Let colleagues know in good time if they cannot carry out their commitments,
explaining the reasons
Do What's Right

• Avoid rationalizing to make what's wrong right in your mind. While we all work in gray areas,
don't get drawn into the trap of justifying that doing something wrong is okay. I always ask
myself whether I would proudly testify in Congress about my behavior. I don't take action if I
would be ashamed to tell others what I've done.

Join Committees And Working Groups

• Joining efforts that improve your team's well-being shows you are committed to the group,
not just your responsibilities. Find at least one activity you can be involved in that contributes
to the common good.
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 Let colleagues know in good time if they cannot carry out their commitments,
explaining the reasons
Show Up

• Attend celebrations, farewells, award ceremonies, and other events in your organization.

• If you're an introvert, you don't need to stay for the entire event. Show up for at least 10-15
minutes to demonstrate that you support your colleagues.

An Open Door Is Not Enough

• If you are a senior leader, walk around the organization and meet people in their workspaces.

• Saying you have an "open door" communicates that you are expecting everyone to come to
you. Instead, go to them. Spend time with people where they work.
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 Let colleagues know in good time if they cannot carry out their commitments,
explaining the reasons
Show Interest In Colleagues' Work

Be genuinely interested in the work your colleagues are doing. Ask questions, listen, and
become familiar with what they do.

Understand their challenges and offer to help if needed.

Keep Your Promises

Don't make a promise you cannot keep and keep the promises you make, no matter how hard
it becomes to do so.

If you must break a promise, explain why and strive to make this an exception to the rule.
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 Let colleagues know in good time if they cannot carry out their commitments,
explaining the reasons
Make Time For People

• The more senior you become, the more time you need to dedicate to people.

• Mentor staff and help them achieve professional and personal success. Provide time and
money for personal development.

Focus On Team Instead Of Personal Achievements

• Give credit to team members for a job well done. Celebrate team success. If you receive a
monetary award for a significant accomplishment, spend some of the money on the team that
helped you win that recognition.

• When you get promoted, take your team to lunch to say thanks for helping you get there.
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Identify any problems they have working with colleagues and
take the initiative to solve these problems

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Identify any problems they have working with colleagues and take the initiative
to solve these problems
• Problem-solving is the process of understanding a challenge and working toward finding an
effective solution to it.

• Depending upon the type and complexity of the problem, it may involve the use of
mathematical operations and may test your critical-thinking skills.

• When prospective employers are talking about problem-solving, they are usually trying to
gauge your ability and skills to deal with difficult situations and complicated business
problems.

• Almost all employers value problem-solving skills and seek to have employees with these
traits in order to aid the decision-making process in the day-to-day functioning of the
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company.
 Identify any problems they have working with colleagues and take the initiative
to solve these problems
Problem-solving steps

Define the problem

Analyze the situation carefully to learn more about the problem. A single situation may involve multiple problems. Identify
each problem and determine the cause. Try to anticipate the behavior and response of people affected by the problem.

Then, based upon your preliminary observation, take the following steps to pinpoint the problem more accurately:

• Separate facts from opinions.

• Determine the process where the problem exists.

• Analyze company policies and procedures.

• Discuss with team members involved in order to gather more information.

• Define the problem in specific terms.

• Gather all the necessary information required to solve the problem.

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 Identify any problems they have working with colleagues and take the initiative
to solve these problems
• While defining a problem, make sure you stay focused on the problem rather than trying to
define it in terms of a solution at this stage.

• For example, “We need to rewrite the training documents” focuses on the solution rather
than the problem.

• Instead, saying, “Training documents are inconsistent” is a better way to define a problem.

• Depending upon the complexity of the problem, you may want to use tools, like flowcharts
and cause-and-effect diagrams, to define the problem and its root causes.

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 Identify any problems they have working with colleagues and take the initiative
to solve these problems
Identify alternative solutions

• Brainstorm all possible ways to solve the existing problem. Invite suggestions from everyone affected
by the problem and consult those who may have more experience with the type of challenge you’re
experiencing. You can also use surveys and discussion groups to generate ideas.

Keep the following points in mind while exploring alternatives:

• Consider every aspect that could slow down the process of solving the existing problem.

• Make sure the ideas generated are consistent with relevant goals and objectives.

• Check that everyone participates in the process of idea generation.

• Distinguish between short- and long-term alternatives.

• Write down all the proposed solutions. You should have at least five to eight of them for each problem.
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Identify any problems they have working with colleagues and take the initiative
to solve these problems
Evaluate solutions

• Once you have a list of alternatives, it is time to evaluate them. Assess the positive and

negative consequences of each alternative defined in the previous step.

• Analyze and compare all the alternatives in terms of the resources required for their

implementation, including time, data, personnel and budget.

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 Identify any problems they have working with colleagues and take the initiative
to solve these problems
Select a solution
• After the evaluation process is over, select a solution most likely to solve the problem. Consider to what extent a solution
meets the following objectives:

• It solves the problem smoothly without creating another problem.

• It is acceptable to everyone involved.

• It is practical and easy to implement.

• It fits within the company’s policies and procedures.

• It is important to consider the implementation part while choosing a solution. Decide the following:

• The employees responsible for executing the solution

• How the employees will implement the solution

• The amount of time and resources needed

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Implement the chosen solution

• The next step involves implementing the chosen solution, which usually requires you to take
the following actions:

• Develop an action plan to implement the chosen solution.

• Define objectives and separate them into measurable targets to monitor the implementation.

• Define timelines for implementation.

• Communicate the plan to everyone involved.

• Develop feedback channels to use during the process.

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Monitor progress and make adjustments

• Make sure to continuously measure progress to ensure your solution works. Gather data and
feedback from others to determine if the solution meets their needs.

• You may need to make adjustments to the process if anything unexpected arises.

• If you feel the solution doesn’t work as planned, you may need to return to your alternative
solutions and implement a new plan.

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What are the important problem-solving skills employers look for?

• Many employers seek candidates with excellent problem-solving skills. Here are some of the
most important problem-solving skills:

Listening:

Active listening helps you gather valuable information for problem-solving.

A good problem-solver can identify everyone involved, encourage them to get involved and
actively listens to different opinions to understand the problem, its root cause and workable
solutions.

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Analytical thinking:

• Analytical thinking helps you research and understand a problem and its causes. The ability to
establish a cause-and-effect relationship is also essential in anticipating the long-term effects
of a course of action. Those with strong analytical skills can evaluate the effectiveness of
different solutions and choose the best one.
Creativity:

• Problem-solving requires you to create a balance between logic and creativity. You need to
use your creativity to find the cause of the issue. It also requires creativity to develop
innovative solutions. Creative people bring unique perspectives and give a new direction to
the company.
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Communication:

• Whether you are seeking solutions to an existing problem or want others to follow a certain
course, you should be able to communicate effectively.

• You may need to talk with others in person, over the phone, via text or through email. You
may also need to correspond with many different people, including team members, customers
and managers.

• Effective communication across a variety of channels allows you to be a good problem solver.

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Decision making:

• You should be able to decide what methods you should use to research the problem, which
solutions you should use and how you should implement the solution.

• Almost every stage of problem-solving requires you to make a decision.

Teamwork:

• Problem-solving involves teamwork. You ask people about their perspective on the problem,
involve them in developing effective solutions, seek their feedback on the chosen solution and
rely on team members to implement the process.

• It is essential to involve and motivate all members of the team for effective problem-solving.
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