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I'm not too chatty at work. I prefer to do my job and not interact with people too much.
It can go either way with me depending on the people and work environment. If the people I work most closely with do not share common interests, then I am more like you.
If they do share some, then I am a little more social, but not enough to distract from getting work done. I tend to converse a little right on arrival to the office with those arriving at the same time, sometimes around lunch time (when not working anyways), or very briefly when leaving.
It can go either way with me depending on the people and work environment. If the people I work most closely with do not share common interests, then I am more like you.
If they do share some, then I am a little more social, but not enough to distract from getting work done. I tend to converse a little right on arrival to the office with those arriving at the same time, sometimes around lunch time (when not working anyways), or very briefly when leaving.
Do what works for you.
I work with a lot of southern baptists and I am a bit of an agnostic myself. I have nothing in common with them. I am polite and professional but I do not engage in casual conversation.
Study after study has shown that employees who like each other as people and exchange SOME conversation about non work topics during slow times work more effectively as a team. And the 21st Century workplace is all about teams.
Yes, no one wants to work with someone who is talking all day about non work related topics but some friendly conversation is to be encouraged, it builds trust and comfort in the team.
When we interview candidates the ones who seem to fit in with the team socially will be at a strong advantage. Many of our hiring managers will start the interview with small talk to see if the candidate will be someone the team will want around. Few people want to work with someone who is ALL BUSINESS.
A team is just a fancy word to explain the dynamic where a few people or one person do all or most of the work while the rest of the team coasts by socializing, kissing butt, etc. and still get the credit for it and fail to receive the consequences of their actions.
LOL, that's me. I hate my coworker, most personal things he tells me I just answer with "oh" because I don't want to hear about it. I have to at least acknowledge he has said something, we've received training that the "silent treatment" is a form of harassment.
LOL, that's me. I hate my coworker, most personal things he tells me I just answer with "oh" because I don't want to hear about it. I have to at least acknowledge he has said something, we've received training that the "silent treatment" is a form of harassment.
Can you post a screenshot of the rule book? Seriously?
Listen you might not have had brains and you might not have had ambition and where you worked maybe morons got promoted. It is not anyone's fault. People don't like to interact with un-intelligent, office machines that can easily be replaced either by automated softwares or low wage laborers from another country. These people do nothing with their lives except gossip, backstab, ***** or show off. Personally, I want to do my work, I'm very friendly with the people I work with in connection with my job and of course my boss. The rest, I don't really care for. Are they interesting? No. Are they smart? No. Will they decide my promotion, salary etc.? No. So why should I interact with them?
Let me provide you with a context. I work in an office where it is pretty much open space. I have four members of my immediate team sitting towards my right with whom I chit chat, and have conversations with. Right behind me and towards my left are women from another team who don't do anything I do. They are gossipy, full of drama and bring their personal business to work, and even worse, turn against each other when someone is not there. Then there is a man who comes and speaks to them often ( who is not their boss but some random guy from Marketing). When I first joined, after introducing himself he said I visit these ladies from time to time and I might pull you into conversation. Really, why? You work in Marketing ( tech or some such position) , something that I'm not remotely interested in as a career or even have a curiosity to find out about. So why should I talk to him? That is a waste of my time and I definitely don't want to interact with a bunch of unambitious, toxic women who are probably really miserable in their lives. Do I want them to be my friends? No! DO I think they will help me professionally? No. Then why should I spend my energy in mindless chit chat with a bunch of toxic nobodies? I have an obligation to my boss who showed a tremendous amount of faith in hiring me and to my immediate team who have been nothing but absolutely amazing patient human beings willing to help me in everyway possible. The rest I don't care about. They are a waste of my time, energy and goals.
Be honest--how do you feel about that coworker who barely ever says a word to anyone and always seems to be in his/her own world?
As long as they are doing wha's required of them are respectful, that's all that matters to me. Not everyone will be outgoing and chipper..that's just a reality. I can't change how someone's personality is. I can only be in control of me. It's funny, because we have a guy like that here. At work, he's quiet but when he's at happy hour, he won't shut up, lol.
I work with a lot of southern baptists and I am a bit of an agnostic myself. I have nothing in common with them. I am polite and professional but I do not engage in casual conversation.
This. I am too, and learned when I worked around a lot of religious people it's even more important.
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I have nothing in common with them. I am polite and professional but I do not engage in casual conversation.
