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Positive relationships in the workplace are an integral part of career success. When building relationships in the workplace, you will notice an increase in productivity and overall job satisfaction. By taking certain steps toward understanding your emotional intelligence and getting to know your coworkers, you can build lasting, professional relationships. In this article, we discuss the benefits of building workplace relationships, as well as specific steps that you can take when developing your own.
What are relationships in the workplace?
Relationships in the workplace are the interactions you have with your colleagues. When you have effective relationships with other professionals and team members, you are more likely to enjoy your day-to-day. Building relationships in the workplace is also important for career success. Not only do relationships with colleagues in the workplace assist with networking, but they can also offer you the guidance and encouragement you need to succeed in your role. Workplace relationships offer the following benefits:
- Increased satisfaction with your career
- Increased comfort with presentations and team meetings
- Improved productivity for all team members
- Moral support and assistance with meeting difficult timelines
- Higher retention rates
Elements of good workplace relationships
Understanding the elements of a good workplace relationship can assist you in evaluating your own relationships and identifying the areas in which you want to improve. Good workplace relationships tend to have the following characteristics:
- Trust: The ability to trust your coworkers and the feeling that you can rely on them is an important characteristic when building a workplace relationship.
- Acceptance: Acceptance and understanding of one another and your role in the workplace relationship is an important element.
- Team member: Individuals who work well in a team setting, doing their fair share of the work and giving credit when it is due, tend to have stronger relationships.
- Open communication: Open communication is crucial to any relationship, including a workplace one. Encouraging open communication, asking questions and getting to know your coworkers is one of the first steps toward a working relationship.
How to build relationships in the workplace
Building positive relationships in the workplace may come naturally to some. However, even if you are unsure how to transition coworker relationships into positive workplace relationships, you can use the following steps:
- Understand your strengths and weaknesses.
- Schedule time to develop relationships.
- Ask questions and listen.
- Offer assistance.
- Know when to ask for assistance.
- Appreciate each employee’s role.
- Keep your commitments.
- Be present.
1. Understand your strengths and weaknesses
Before focusing on the development of new workplace relationships, it can be helpful to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Developing relationship skills like communication, active listening and conflict resolution can assist you when initiating workplace relationships. Evaluate the positive things that you bring to a new workplace relationship and consider the things you need in a relationship. Evaluating your emotional intelligence (EI) can assist with this task. Understanding your emotional intelligence involves a focus on:
- Self-awareness: Self-awareness is the ability to be aware of your own needs and wants in your career and in a relationship.
- Self-regulation: Self-regulation is the ability to regulate your own emotions and thoughts by keeping your long-term goals in mind.
- Empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and empathize with another’s situation.
- Social skills: The development of important social skills like teamwork, conflict resolution, communication and problem-solving skills are crucial when developing new relationships.
Related: 5 Ways To Develop Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
2. Schedule time to develop relationships
Building positive relationships in the workplace takes time. The daily expectations and duties of your position can make it difficult to find time to interact with other team members. By scheduling time to develop relationships, you will find it easier to interact with and get to know your coworkers. You might schedule time during lunch, during the first 10 minutes of your workday or as you are leaving the office at the end of the day. You could even schedule the first 10 minutes of a meeting to be a time when everyone catches up with one another. Additionally, many employers have after-work outings or team events which can be great for building workplace relationships.
3. Ask questions and listen
Asking questions and actively listening will not only allow you to learn more about your coworkers but are also an important part of the process of building relationships. When you ask questions about your coworker’s personal life, professional goals or daily needs, you are showing an interest in them. Give them the opportunity to share details about their life before sharing your own. Also, by asking questions and encouraging open communication, your coworkers will come to associate you with being a good communicator. They are more likely to come to you with concerns, celebrations or when they just need someone to listen.
Related: The Best Methods for Teaching Excellent Communication Skills
4. Offer assistance
Taking the burden off of a coworker when they are struggling to complete a project is a great way to build a relationship. If you notice that a coworker feels overwhelmed and you have a few extra minutes, consider offering them assistance. Trust is an important part of building relationships and by helping coworkers when they need it most, you are demonstrating this quality.
5. Know when to ask for assistance
Asking for assistance can also initiate a workplace relationship. By asking coworkers to join in on projects or work tasks, you have more opportunities to get to know them. Also, keep in mind that you are more likely to receive the assistance you need when you have offered the same assistance to others previously. Relationships involve both give and take and you can demonstrate this by asking for and offering assistance.
6. Appreciate each employee’s role
Appreciation is a powerful relationship builder. Sometimes, it might seem difficult to understand the challenges of another department and frustrations can lead to negative feelings. By keeping in mind that each department has different goals, you can appreciate each employee’s individual role with the organization. Rather than jumping to conclusions or placing the blame, it can be useful to come up with solutions to a problem. By working together in a productive and professional manner, you will find that you develop a new sense of appreciation for your coworkers, which will allow you to begin developing a positive relationship.
7. Keep your commitments
Further building on trust is the act of keeping your commitments. You are more likely to develop stronger relationships when your coworkers or team members know that they know that they can rely on you. If you find it difficult to keep commitments due to a busy work schedule, tell coworkers that you will need to get back to them when they request your attendance. Always be realistic when agreeing to work responsibilities or upcoming events.
8. Be present in the workplace
With the many responsibilities and requirements that come with the workday, it can often feel like the day flies by. It might feel more productive to multi-task throughout the day, answering emails during a team meeting or working on your report during lunch. However, these tasks prevent you from being present. By paying attention to those around you, beginning communication and getting to know your coworkers, you will find that you are able to build workplace relationships with minimal effort.
“8 Ways to Build Workplace Relationships.” Indeed Career Guide, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-build-relationships.
