Humans are sociable beings by nature. And, given that we spend one-third of our lives at work, it’s obvious that having strong connections with our coworkers will make our employees more pleasurable. Coworkers will be more confident in brainstorming, sharing their perspectives, and embracing new ideas if they feel comfortable with one another. This level of teamwork is necessary to embrace change, progress, and innovation.
Productivity and group morale surge once members discover how successfully they can work together. A strong professional network may also help you advance in your career by opening doors that would otherwise be closed to you.
In this post, you’ll learn why excellent working relationships are crucial, as well as how to establish and manage them.
1. Small Talk and Outdoor Activities
Employees want their bosses to get to know them as people, not simply as employees. In addition to task-oriented talks, ask your colleagues what they did over the weekend, not just if it was a good weekend. Inquire about the photo of their family or vacation on their desk. Pay attention. This way, you will show your staff that you regard them as people rather than just workers with a set of duties to be completed. It will be nice for both you and your coworkers to take a vacation from a demanding work environment. Outdoor activities will be an excellent way to bond a team together and enjoy some quality time spent in nature. Outdoor team activities provide opportunities that indoor team leaders cannot provide. This way, people have more room to roam about and participate in physical activities that demand greater interaction with others.
2. Make Decisions Together
The simplest method to create regular ties with coworkers is to involve everyone’s reports in decision-making. “What are your feelings?” or “What are your thoughts?” Trust, employee engagement, feelings of accountability, and employee engagement are all helped by asking these questions.
When decisions are made collaboratively, motivation is greater. Inclusion improves trust, responsibility, and motivation!
3. Be Positive
Maintaining a pleasant attitude toward your coworkers is an important element of developing successful connections. Don’t jeopardize someone’s reputation by criticizing them or joining in on a joke at their expense.
Hard work, honesty, and a pleasant professional demeanor are characteristics that can help you advance in your career. You may immediately develop meaningful professional connections by respecting your colleagues and demonstrating your worth by providing your time, knowledge, and expertise. This will take you through not only your first few months on the job but also your long-term career with the company.
4. Avoid Gossip
Workplace gossip is a part of life, whether you work for a huge firm, a midsize enterprise, or a small business. Someone should tell a coworker something private and almost everyone learns about it by the end of the day. It may be excruciatingly distressing for anyone to learn that their coworkers are gossiping behind their backs about them. However, as a manager, you must recognize when that small talk turns into something more damaging. If you want to build great relationships at work, you must completely avoid gossip. If you hear a coworker talking about another, don’t join in or try to change the subject. If you have an issue with a coworker, try to talk to them first in a kind and honest manner.
5. Promote Trust
Every good connection is built on trust, and this includes the individuals with whom you work. According to recent studies, employees who believed their supervisors trusted them were happier and less inclined to hunt for a new job. More than 70% of employees who thought their bosses lacked trust in them stated they planned to look for a new job in the next few months! While you should have a multi-person sign-off procedure in place, allowing your team to make the judgments you know they’re capable of will make them feel valued and give them the confidence to develop.
On the other hand, don’t overlook the importance of your team’s faith in you as their superior. If customers feel comfortable communicating any concerns they have with you, it will be simpler and faster to address them – and they will be less inclined to abandon ship later. Regular meetings with individual members of your team will allow them to express their opinions and any problems they may have—just make it clear that they will not be judged or chastised for providing candid input. You should also reassure them that everything they say during these sessions will remain private.
6. Family-Like Culture
The goal must be to create a family culture regardless of the size of the team. Set up your teams on Viber or WhatsApp, and have each member send an uplifting message to the “family” each morning as they begin their day. This is quite effective! As they get inspiration, they can glimpse one another’s hearts and connect. It may seem unusual, but it is possibly one of the most effective strategies to ensure that every employee feels welcomed, appreciated, and loved.
Finally, we may conclude that a good connection, communication, honesty, and trust are the keys to developing your company and interpersonal interactions. Your team will perform and function better than ever before with these recommendations, and you will be able to enjoy a nice working environment!
Also published on Medium.
