Gestures that work

Swati Rai

Much has been written, read, emulated and ignored as well, about how one can chisel a positive work environment. Most advice oscillates between esoteric axioms to banal truisms. A practical hands-on listicle will work wonders on upping the standards of one’s gestures a.k.a, acts at work.

The aim remains the same — not to win the best co-worker award, but to genuinely care for a synergistic, harmonious work environment.

Assertion versus aggression

You have a point to make.  Great! Your co-worker does too. An act of active listening while the other person makes a point is no comment on the feebleness of your point of view. Instead,  this is an imperative pre-requisite for a positive work environment. Your gesture of hearing out a contention before placing your reason, in an emphatic yet polite manner will have people rooting for you but also enhance your co-working quotient.

Genuine is as genuine does

No, don’t get your game face on all the time. Human side of yours and the realness of your personality should shine through. Acts of kindness as basic as sharing a photocopy, information, holding the table at the café and expressing genuine concern will go a long way in not equating you with a fake persona. Vulnerability is as much a part of your work identity as is of in your business of the living. An extension of your real self at work will also make the task of maintaining an ‘image’ less tiresome and taxing. Being you is a favour you'll end up doing yourself.

Respect privacy at workplace 

While being friends at work with colleagues is a great start to a stress-free atmosphere, yet, one must tread on it carefully before the friendly nature of interaction is misinterpreted as a  breach of code of professional conduct. Knowing when to respect the privacy of a fellow colleague in matters such as checking mail, not prying about professional arbitration issues and aspects concerning the professional beat of your friend, is a gesture that will no only make your friendship last but also set ground rules of work relationship and perhaps in a more non-threatening manner. 

Smile please 

Facial gestures help in building an aura of positivity — so a calm demeanour with a helpful, pleasing smile on one’s face will help. Also remembering names, respecting everyone, acknowledging request, even when not sanctioning them will help in creating an affable image. Shaking hands on meeting and exiting a conversation, depending on the situation; making eye contact are also gestures of kindness and mutual respect. Mirroring of your actions will cause a domino effect in the office circles, voila you have a positive workforce at hand.