If you aren’t content at work, whatever you do, this phrase may be familiar: How to enjoy my job.

Work satisfaction is something I have been reflecting on recently, and wondering how I’d answer someone posting the question ‘how to enjoy my job?’.

I have been thinking about people starting with and leaving my businesses, the impact of the pandemic, the ups and downs. Despite the challenges, what I recall strongly is some really good displays of teamwork.

I don’t want to sound complacent, as we can all always do better and work more efficiently as a squad. And that is what I’m going to write about; how better teamwork can be an answer to how to enjoy my job.

So, how can you show you are a team player?

• Be collaborative in your approach to your job and share your knowledge, skills and insight with your colleagues
• If you can, attend team events in and out of work. It is good to get to know your work family, especially considering you spend more time with them than your actual family some days
• Be open and honest in your communications whilst also being open minded and listening. Listening is a true art form sometimes; everyone has a difference voice and something to say which could add value
• Respect your time, your colleagues’ time and time in general
• We all have bad days, whether as a team or as an individual. It’s a matter of fact, like it or not. Where possible, if it isn’t to do with work, leave it behind and use work as your escape from it. Try not to bring it into the workplace as it can bring you down more, and your team too. if you do have bad moments with your colleagues, deal with it that day and don’t let it be part of the next. Build a bridge!

What isn’t acceptable and impacts on your team

• Holdings grudges with colleagues instead of dealing with the challenge
• Allowing unacceptable behaviour in others
• Undermining your colleagues or gossiping as its not healthy for you or your team
• Being negative, eye rolling or sighing when colleagues are talking to you. Treat them how you want to be treated, as being respectful is a two-way street
• Not being approachable by your colleagues and others
• Being physically or verbally abusive, rude, swearing or similar at each other. A, it is about respect

I’m sure many of you recognise behaviour in both the lists above, positive and negative, from themselves or fellow team members.

If it is you, think about how your teamwork could be improved when you find yourself wondering how to enjoy my job.

To quote Steve Jobs: “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.”