Gallup\u2019s research<\/a>, people who have friends at work are more than twice as likely to be engaged in their tasks. Now, with colleagues, you can share casual conversations and have a hearty laugh during watercooler breaks. Meanwhile, since you don\u2019t necessarily work on the same projects, you don\u2019t share the same level of relationship with your coworkers. When they\u2019re from a different department, you may even feel the need to watch what you\u2019re saying when speaking with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAlso, when you\u2019ve properly identified your colleagues, you know who to turn to for specific tasks, concerns, or issues. Your work becomes easier<\/strong> because you understand people\u2019s roles in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Colleagues vs. Coworkers in Specific Professional Settings<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTo help you understand how colleagues and coworkers differ, here are examples in different professional contexts. Depending on the circumstances, you may discover some overlap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Education<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAre you working as a teacher? If so, then you can refer to anyone working in the same educational institution as you do as your coworker<\/strong>. Let\u2019s say you\u2019re teaching at a high school. In this case, your coworkers can include all the other educators, the school nurse, the principal, and even the building custodians.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMeanwhile, your colleagues can be all the high school teachers around the globe. Since you share the same profession, you can refer to them as your colleague<\/strong>. Now, employees at your high school with non-teaching roles are simply your coworkers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Journalism<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAs a journalist, you can refer to the editor working on your story or your co-reporter as your colleagues<\/strong>. These people can be helping you finish the same story.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMeanwhile, your coworkers<\/strong> are employees within the same media company. They can be responsible for handling advertisement sales or publishing. They are unlikely working with you because they are in a different department. Even so, they are your coworkers because you are employed by the same media company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Health Care<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMost of the time, educators can teach students by themselves. On the other hand, when performing their duties, medical doctors usually depend on nurses. So, physicians can consider nurses as their colleagues<\/strong>. They can also use the term for other doctors that work with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow, all the people working in the hospital are a doctor\u2019s coworkers<\/strong>. Meanwhile, fellow doctors with similar specializations but from other medical institutions are their colleagues<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Law<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAs a lawyer, anyone working on the same case as you do can be called your colleague<\/strong>. Perhaps, they can exchange ideas with you on the best approach for the case. They can also be someone helping you with evidence research. So, your colleague can be a lawyer within the same or different firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow, let\u2019s say you have an IT personnel helping you fix issues with your email or computer. Well, that person is not your colleague<\/strong>\u2014they are your coworker. The accountant in the firm is also your coworker<\/strong>. The only thing you share is the law firm you\u2019re all working for. However, your duties and responsibilities are different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Sales<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAs a salesperson, your colleague<\/strong> can be someone in your team who is sharing the same professional goals as you do. Meanwhile, a person in charge of customer services can be considered your coworker<\/strong>. The difference here is you\u2019re working with potential clients while your coworker is handling existing customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAs you can see, there\u2019s some overlap in your responsibilities. However, the difference here is that you\u2019re focused on procuring new customers while your coworker\u2019s duty is to keep current clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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