Colleagues are important in your internship experience.  Having a good relationship with your teammates is necessary to maintain a healthy work environment and it helps you make the most out of your internship. However, it is not always easy, especially for interns who have never had work experience before. Below are 6 tips for you to get along smoothly with your colleagues.

1. Practice good manners

Make sure to greet your coworkers when arriving at your internship and don’t forget to say goodbye when leaving. Always use the words “please” and “thank you” no matter who you are talking to. These attitudes acknowledge your colleague's presence and help raise the energy of your workplace.

2. Find a common interest and socialise

Finding a common interest is a good way to break the ice. For example, it can be a common favourite movie, a common hobby or a common favourite meal.  Take initiative to have lunch and chat with your colleagues during the break.  It can be advantageous to know and to be known by your colleagues.  If you have a good time during lunch, it may help you to start or strengthen a relationship. However, you can not expect that everyone in the company will be your friend. Be sure not to talk about sensitive topics, such as religion, politics or something too personal.

3. Be respectful and adaptable

Especially for interns who work in a multicultural company, you should learn to respect different cultures and be open-minded. Conflicts can stem from cultural differences, but also from differences of opinion or misunderstandings - it is best to try to discover the cause of the conflict before assuming the person is culturally incompatible. You should try to adapt to the company and local culture, and if you have an opportunity to share your culture with your team it can be a great way to interest others and make connections. However, do not force your culture onto anyone else - you must respect all cultures.

Find out how to manage cultural differences in the workplace.

4. Show respect for your superiors

Sometimes, the most friction among colleagues is from your supervisor or manager due to high demands or negative attitudes.  Do not regard your supervisor as your friend and try your best to learn as much as you can from her/him. Normally, supervisors are experienced, thus interns should trust them and adapt to their training styles.  Always be honest and communicate with your supervisor in a respectful and polite manner. Making questions and engaging in discussions is a way of showing interest in what they have to say.

Check the article Effective Workplace Communication for further tips.

5. Avoid Gossip

Gossip is usually harmful in the working place. Hostility is often from gossiping and complaining amongst colleagues. By doing this you lose credibility at your workplace and ruin your coworker's reputations. You also affect the company’s productivity by wasting the time of everyone who is involved. The best way to avoid this is to turn away when you hear it and not to let yourself get involved.

6. Do your job

The best thing you can do to maintain a good relationship with your coworkers is to do your part. Showing you can assist and accomplish what was designated to you shows you are a good person to work with and leaves a good impression.

Find out more content like this in our section Career Advice