We are spending a big part of our day in the workplace. So, it is undeniable that good working relationships and an effective teamwork culture impact our work and career. Research conducted by Gallup in 2018 revealed that employees who develop friendships in the workplace are more engaged in their work and have better work performance.

Healthy working relationships decrease work stress and improve work satisfaction. Employees should try to connect and bond with their colleagues. This is called internal networking. A 2015 survey showed that 85% of employees found work through networking, so it shows how advantageous this can be.

It is also crucial to know how to work effectively within a team. Workers must maintain a positive and helpful attitude towards their colleagues. Working on interpersonal skills can be a way of improving teamwork. Interpersonal skills are related to the worker’s ability to communicate and relate to others. It also includes Emotional Intelligence. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, allows us to successfully manage and understand our emotions. EQ is important at all career levels to strengthen relationships among workers. That is exactly what a 2018 study from Guru Gobind Singh College for Women showed. Today, employers focus on candidates with strong interpersonal skills to strengthen their teams.

Diversity in the workplace is a goal for most companies. A diversified workforce comprises employees with different backgrounds and characteristics i.e. gender, languages, religion, race, etc. As much as it can increase the discussion, it also brings more creative ideas, perspectives, and a strengthened employer’s reputation. Diversity helps develop a strong workforce.

Throughout our work journey, we will need to work with people we might not like. In these cases, workers should remain professional and positive. It is important to concentrate efforts to find common interests instead of focusing on differences. Employees need to make all work relationships viable. Looking positively at people and relationships helps workers cope better with these situations.

Good verbal and non-verbal communication skills are key to maintain effective cooperation and good relationships among work teams. It is more than talking and listening. It involves active listening and respect between workers. Bad communication may lead to misunderstandings that may affect our job and other worker’s tasks. Given that we all have different talents and skills, helping coworkers can be a positive way to strengthen the work of the other and improve work relationships. A study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison of 2013 showed that employees who help others at work are happier. Showing appreciation and admiration is a way to build great relationships at work. It has a positive impact on our self-esteem and motivation. We all like to feel appreciated and valued. This is a simple thing people can do that brings tremendous benefits.

Taking responsibility and acknowledging mistakes is also very important in working relationships. We all make mistakes, and it is normal. Blaming another co-worker or trying to hide mistakes is never the right option. The solution is to deal with them and try to solve them.

Being clear and consistent in our working relationships is fundamental. It means acting according to what we say and believe. It is crucial to perform our tasks and understand the expectations of others about our work. Our success will be the success of our team.

A Gallup survey from 2018 showed that, when questioned about satisfaction at work, the second most important factor workers considered was working relationships. As much as workers should develop work relationships, they must also define boundaries. Healthy boundaries can dictate the difference between a stressful and a satisfying job. Therefore, we should not be shy setting and communicating our limits. This helps coworkers understand our work’s dynamics.

References:

1. How to build strong relationships in the workplace, January 2019, BusinessAdvice 
2. What Makes A Successful Team?, March 2019, Forbes
3. Utilizing Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace, August 2019, VeryWellMind
4. Building Relationships at Work: A Key in Lowering Turnover Rates, November 2018, WORKEST
5. 7 Essential Steps For Building Good Relationships At Work, February 2019, She Owns Success
6. 10 Ways To Set Healthy Boundaries At Work, July 2019, Forbes
7. Top 10 Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace, December 2018, TalentLyft