Happy Tuesday!

My psychology research internship this summer is the first in-person job I've had since 2019. It took a while for me to adjust, but the amazing office culture created by my colleagues and I helped me adapt quickly.

As the weeks went by, I found that all of us shared the same mindset and 2 habits that made working with each other so enjoyable:

Mindset: Culture starts with you

When you begin a new job, you're usually adapting to the organization's existing culture. But here's what people forget:

Culture is the culmination of numerous interpersonal relationships.

Therefore, it is possible to create your own workplace culture—but only if you focus on cultivating the kind of 1-to-1 relationships you want with the colleagues around you.

The 2 Habits I Picked Up that Contributed to a Happy Workplace

1. Practice small acts of thoughtfulness consistently

"How can I make the workplace more comfortable for my colleagues?"

Answering that question led us to practice small acts of thoughtfulness, like:

• Buying each other snacks, such as chocolate and fruits
• Refilling the water filter jug whenever it was almost empty
• Offering to make tea or coffee for others when making your own
• Taking stretch breaks after long hours of sitting, and inviting others to join

If you're working remotely, you can always start with a simple "How are you?", make an effort to remember what they mention, and follow up on those details from time to time. For example, if my colleague mentioned wanting to pick up more freelance work, I'd learn more about the kind of work they were looking for and send some their way if I knew of any.

2. Help others without expectation of reciprocity

During our internship, we had to sift through several articles within a short period of time and use our newfound knowledge to generate research questions. I completed this task quickly as I had done this process several times throughout my university courses.

Meanwhile, my colleague felt that she was going in circles and eventually reached out to me for advice. I was able to jump on a call with her within hours of her asking since my schedule was free that day and, in 20 minutes, I was able to explain my approach and inspire greater clarity on her next steps.

Through it all, I never thought about how she might help me back in the future. Instead, I was happy that I had the skills and knowledge to be of actual help. This habit of tying my happiness to my contributions to others, as well as avoiding pettiness in general, has made my life a lot more joyful.

Your career is a long game, and people at all levels can play a part in your success. Try not to be shortsighted.

Eric Sim, Small Actions

But what if they say no? (or worse?)

This summer, I was blessed to have nice colleagues who wanted to be friends outside of work and do great work together.

But what if I'm not that lucky in the future?

What if some people aren't that nice?

What happens when I have colleagues that feel threatened by my growth and actively try to sabotage me?

For this situation, I've come to adopt the following philosophies:

• I have autonomy over my actions.
• Others' actions towards me are a reflection of their character, not mine.
• If I let others' actions influence my actions, then I am 1) giving away my autonomy, and 2) diminishing my character to their level.

With these in mind, I can stand up for myself and protect my interests without being rude or revengeful. Continuing to be kind and compassionate in my actions will only enhance my personal brand.

What if some people like to keep their work and personal lives separate?

For them, colleagues can only remain acquaintances and cannot become close friends, and they try to avoid non-work interactions whenever possible. When you ask them "How are you?", they respond with a "Good, how are you?" and move on quickly to the meeting agenda (I've been guilty of this one during stressful periods).

Adhering to the philosophies above, my colleagues' responses should not hold influence over my actions. I can continue to invite them to group events, even when they've never said yes. I can continue to take a genuine interest in their day, even when I know they'll give a one-word reply. And I can let myself feel a smaller sting of rejection each time they say no.

Give these habits a try, and let me know how it goes for you! Feel free to reach out with tips of your own as well—I'm more active on LinkedIn nowadays.