My joy at being back in the fray after the summer was enriched by an article I picked up in the Harvard Business Review which argued that one of the best ways to survive the downsizing sword was to be good to be around. Being realistic yet positive and forward looking rather than a David Brent type joker are what we are talking about here.
The key for me is how to do this authentically. A sudden switch from office cynic to office Samaritan is going to raise more suspicion than warm glow.
What is essential is to treat your colleagues as people. Does that sound too obvious? Maybe I think that you work with a bunch or chimpanzies, or maybe you do. But we all recognise when someone is being nice to us for their own end - because they need us or something we can do for them.
The work of The Arbinger Institute calls this being resistant to others. Seeing them as objects that are useful, a barrier or irrelevant to you and whose needs and desires are less important than your own.
If you truely saw your colleagues as people what could you do for them today?
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