How To Foster Healthy Workplace Relationships

May 28, 2022 | Ebru Yildirim
Career Coach
Workplace relationships are the interactions you have with your coworkers. You are more likely to enjoy your day-to-day life if you have effective relationships with other professionals and team members. Building professional relationships is also crucial for career advancement. Relationships with coworkers can help you not only network, but also provide you with the guidance and encouragement you need to succeed in your job. Positive workplace relationships are critical to professional success. You will notice an increase in productivity and overall job satisfaction when you build relationships in the workplace. You can develop long-lasting professional relationships by understanding your emotional intelligence and getting to know your coworkers. Building positive workplace relationships may come naturally to some. Even if you're not sure how to turn negative coworker relationships into positive workplace relationships, the steps below can help:   Know the Group’s Strengths and Weaknesses Understanding your strengths and weaknesses can be beneficial before focusing on the development of new workplace relationships. When it comes to forming workplace relationships, developing relationship skills such as communication, active listening, and conflict resolution can help. Consider the positive qualities you bring to a new workplace relationship and the qualities you require in a colleague.   Make Time to Build Relationships Building positive workplace relationships takes time. It can be difficult to find time to interact with other team members due to the daily demands and responsibilities of your position. It will be easier to interact with and get to know your coworkers if you schedule time to develop relationships.  You could schedule time during lunch, the first 10 minutes of your workday, or as you leave the office. You could even make the first 10 minutes of a meeting a time for everyone to catch up with each other. Many employers also offer after-work outings or team events, which can be beneficial for fostering workplace relationships.   Ask Questions and Pay Attention Asking questions and actively listening to your coworkers is an important lesson in career coaching. It will not only help you learn more about them, but they will also help you build relationships. You show interest in your coworker when you inquire about their personal life, professional goals, or daily needs.  Allow them to tell you about their lives before you tell them about yours. Your coworkers will associate you with being a good communicator if you ask questions and encourage open communication. They are more likely to come to you with concerns, joys, or when they simply need someone to listen to them.   Provide assistance Taking the weight off a coworker's shoulders when they're struggling to finish a project is a great way to strengthen a bond. Consider offering assistance to a coworker who appears to be overwhelmed if you have a few spare minutes. Building relationships requires trust, and you can demonstrate this quality by assisting coworkers when they are in need.   Know When to Ask for Help Requesting assistance can also help to establish a working relationship. You can learn more about coworkers by inviting them to participate in projects or work tasks. Also, keep in mind that you are more likely to receive the help you require if you have previously provided similar assistance to others. In order to demonstrate that relationships require both give and take, you can ask for and offer assistance.   Recognize each employee's contribution. Relationships are strengthened by appreciation. It can be difficult to comprehend the challenges of another department at times, and frustrations can lead to negative emotions. You can appreciate each employee's individual role with the organization by keeping in mind that each department has different goals. Rather than jumping to conclusions or assigning blame, coming up with solutions to a problem can be beneficial. Working together in a productive and professional manner will allow you to develop a new sense of appreciation for your coworkers, allowing you to start building positive relationships.   Keep your promises. Keeping your promises contributes to the development of trust. When your coworkers or team members know they can count on you, you're more likely to develop stronger relationships. Tell coworkers that you will need to get back to them when they request your attendance if you find it difficult to keep commitments due to a busy work schedule. When it comes to work responsibilities or upcoming events, always be realistic.   Be Available in the Workplace It's easy to feel like the day flies by when you have so many responsibilities and requirements to meet. Multitasking throughout the day, such as answering emails during a team meeting or working on a report during lunch, may feel more productive. These tasks, however, prevent you from being present. You can build workplace relationships with minimal effort by paying attention to those around you, initiating communication, and getting to know your coworkers.