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FEATURE
ARTICLE
Building Positive Relationships at Work
Building positive workplace relationships is vital for
career success. Relationships can positively or negatively affect your
satisfaction with the job, your ability to advance and gain recognition for
your achievements. When you build positive relationships, you feel more
comfortable with your interactions and less intimidated by others. You feel a
closer bond to the people you spend the majority of your time working with.
However, for a lot of people, relationship building isn't natural or easy to
do. Most refuse to admit this is a concern because it is such a basic, common
sense concept. They assume they already know how to do it. Don't fall into
that trap. Everyone - even the most outgoing, engaging personalities - can
improve their skills in this critical area. The ten tips listed below are for
anyone who wants to build positive workplace relationships.
Apply
these tips to interactions with your boss, team members, project managers,
senior management, vendors, clients, customers, direct reports and
administrators.
1) Share more of yourself at meetings.
One of the best ways to build relationships is to let others know who you
are. This can come by sharing your expertise, knowledge and personality at
meetings. Other people will either get to know you, like you or want to hear
more from you. They will find you more approachable and thus the chance of
building relationships begins to occur. If you are fearful to share at
meetings, think ahead of time what you want to say so that you are more
prepared.
2) Speak positively about the people you work with, especially
to your boss.
Get in the habit of speaking positively to others about the people who work
with. Many times the information that gets shared (whether positive or
negative) comes back to the person who is being discussed. People will enjoy
hearing that you have said supportive things about them and will know that
you are on their side. That will build trust. Be careful of the workplace
gossip that is so prevalent and don't contribute to it.
3) Be supportive of other people's work.
Ask how you can get involved. This will form a closer connection because you
are working directly with them to help them meet their goals. They will
appreciate your support and get to know you better which is vital to creating
a more connected working relationship.
4) Ask others to become involved in your projects or
activities.
Don't be afraid to ask others for help and bring them onto your projects. The
more they can participate in the activities you are working on, the better
you get to know each other. You'll enjoy working with others in getting more
things done.
5) Write thank you notes.
Write notes of appreciation to the people who are doing exemplary work,
making positive contributions and going above the call of duty. These notes
can be hard-written, sent via email or done by voice mail. Send them to
people above you, below you or at the peer level. Colleagues like to be
appreciated and will feel closer to you by having been noticed and thanked
for their contributions.
Need more information on how to build positive relationships
at work - see Part Two of this article in which we will highlight tips #6
through #10 on October 30th.
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