Whether you just joined a new team at work or your annual performance review came out as "needs to be a team player," it is never too late to up your work personality game.

Navigating relationships with co-workers can be tricky because it depends on the environment. Some office spaces encourage friendships between co-workers by hosting happy hours, paying for running races and retreats for getting to know each other on more personal levels.

This is a cultural shift from a traditional corporate world, one where it is not professional to talk about your personal life, like job interview rules.

Get a hold on your office culture, but with these 10 tips, you can't fail to be the team player everyone can rely on.

10 Solve Conflicts & Tension

When there is tension on a team, everyone can notice it. If you feel it, they feel it too. Don't let conflicts go unresolved, that is how teams fall about.

It could be something so small and easily fixed with little communication. Be humble and put away your ego to be a good team player that adds positivity and productive work to the team.

9 Consider Other's Schedules & Workload

Be considerate of other people's schedules, this goes for communication as well. If someone doesn't respond to your email right away, respect that they are busy and will get to it when they can.

Related: Battling Burnout: What To Do If You Are Experiencing Burnout

8 Don't Put Your Work On Others

Don't be that co-worker who constantly asks for favors, mostly the kind of favor where you put your workload on someone else.

As a team, sometimes you can be there for each other, but if you are the person taking advantage of the situation, things are bound to go south. That also means respecting someone's work schedule, if you are working at night or on the weekend, don't expect them to also just because you need them to answer a question.

7 Respect Boundaries

Boundaries are important in any friendship or relationship. Usually, the concept of boundaries arises between employees and their managers in terms of workload and hours, but it can be an issue between co-workers as well.

Respect how other people want to be treated, and also how they want to interact in the workplace. If it is obvious they don't like to talk about certain topics, respect that boundary and don't pry.

Related: Barriers Faced By Young People In the Workforce And How To Overcome Them

6 Meet Deadlines For Your Team

Meeting decided and agreed upon deadlines is one of the easiest ways to be a team player. Imagine that your colleague can't do their job until you finish your part. If you finish late, consistently, that puts them behind and adds stress to the team.

If someone asks you to complete something by X date, prioritize it in your schedule and respect that it is important for your team as well.

5 Pay Attention In Meetings

There are a lot of memes on the internet about napping during zoom calls, but if you are that person it is actually making your co-worker's life more difficult. Meetings are for exchanging information so that later each person can do their job without having to send a million emails or interrupt someone's workflow.

Not paying attention or coming prepared to a meeting causes you to rely on others more instead of being autonomous and helpful.

4 Use Preferred Methods Of Communication

For teams that require constant communication, it can be difficult for all of those involved because it leads to constant interruptions. Speak as a team about the best way to respond to comments or questions without disrupting each other's flow.

3 Give Thoughtful Feedback

While feedback usually comes through a manager or leader, it can be given among peers as well if done respectfully. This is related to conflict management because you need to be able to article how you feel about something, but don't just give feedback when something doesn't go well, give feedback about the good things too.

Try to leave most feedback to the managers, as it just isn't your place, but thoughtful comments can be received in a positive way if delivered correctly.

2 Be Considerate In Shared Spaces

Being considerate in a shared space is another one of the easiest ways to not poke your teammates. This includes playing music, having loud notifications on or taking personal phone calls in common spaces.

Get soundproof headphones, put your phone on silent and take calls outside. It is that simple.

1 Show Interest In Having Positive Relationships

If you are trying to become everyone's favorite co-worker, do so in a genuine way. Show interest in knowing your colleagues on a personal level, but do so carefully at least in the beginning.

You never know if something you say could possibly offend them or be a sensitive topic, which can make things uncomfortable. Try to read them, and only dig as far as they want to share about themselves.

In general, if you come to work happy to collaborate and work together, in time you can be a good team player.

Next: What is A Co-Working Space And Should You Join One

10 Fashion Buys That Cost Less Than $100
Next 10 Fashion Buys That Cost Less Than $100
About The Author