It is often said that one-third of your life is spent at work. This massive amount of time dedicated to making money means you spend a lot of hours with the people in your workplace. They often become your “work family.” But in today’s world, where so many tasks and interactions seem to be online, it can be tough to get close to your coworkers. Meanwhile, many people crave more closeness. Here are some strategies for building strong, supportive relationships at work.
Show Up for Your Coworkers
If you’re new to the office or haven’t made connections with your colleagues yet, and you’re looking for quick and easy ways to get close, show up. It sounds silly, but so many people go through work and even their personal lives on auto-pilot. A whole day can go by and you don’t realize you’ve spent it not really being present. This “checked out” approach to life can be off-putting to those around you, who hesitate to approach you and be friendly.
Starting today, make a conscious effort to be present for your life and the people in it. This state of being is often called “showing up.” You can do this by checking in with coworkers, asking how their days are, and looking for ways to help. If a coworker is sick, organize a pool for office-wide get well soon gifts. If someone just had a baby, plan a meal train. If there’s a birthday in the office, plan a small office party. Get involved and watch your work relationships thrive.
Schedule Time to Socialize
Of course, your work relationships don’t just have to thrive in the workplace. In fact, with high-paced work, you might be too busy to get too much socializing done. Fields like finance, real estate, healthcare, journalism, and more can often feel overwhelming, so you forget to spend quality time with coworkers. Instead, you find yourself hyper-focused on work and rushing out of the office at the end of the day to give yourself a break.
In these situations, schedule those breaks with your coworkers. You don’t have to spend all your time with the people from your office, but it can go a long way toward improving workplace morale if you grab a drink together once a week. You could also plan lunch with a coworker or a quick walk to the coffee shop. Make chatting with coworkers, even about the latest celebrity gossip or something else silly, a priority, and your work relationships will likely improve dramatically.
Collaborate
Do you often feel like you do way more work than you should be doing in the office? If you get overwhelmed, as so many people do, you might feel like you have to shoulder all those tasks and projects alone. After all, corporate America is highly competitive, and so many ambitious employees feel pressured to prove themselves by “killing it” at work. This often turns into resentment and burnout that leaves you stressed, anxious, and frankly hating your job.
Fortunately, many organizations in the U.S. are changing their attitudes about what a leader looks like and promoting staff members who know how to collaborate. This shift means you can strengthen workplace relationships by reaching out to your colleagues for input and partnership. Knowing when to ask for help, how to facilitate growth, and how to draw on others’ strengths will make you a powerhouse in the workplace and a true friend to those you help rise.
Communicate
If you’re working in a fast-paced environment that seems to have a catty or cut-throat energy, you might find yourself regretting taking this job. It can be challenging to find work friends and grow that ideal work family when people take credit for others’ work and gossip behind each others’ backs. The good news is you don’t have to feed into that energy, and you don’t have to let it keep going the way it is.
You can shift all that negative energy by speaking directly to anyone you may be struggling with. Ask the person directly if they have any questions with you or if there’s something you can do to help them. Stand your ground, know your worth, and be completely transparent. The good people who want a strong workplace will respect your effective communication. Your workplace relationships can then grow from a supportive and respectful space that lasts.
Set and Respect Boundaries
Of course, you should never let yourself be run over or run over anyone else. Boundaries are an important part of work and life, and the sooner you set them, the sooner others will respect them. A lack of boundaries is what allows for a toxic workplace and, ultimately, less than great work results. In the past, many U.S. workplaces have built reputations on inappropriate workplace behavior, unreasonable expectations, and a lack of communication.
If you’re in a workplace that hasn’t come into the modern era of establishing strong boundaries, be the leader on this front. Go to your human resources department and discuss clear work hours, breaks, expectations about work, and appropriate behavior in the office. Then, hold that line, giving everyone you work with the respect they’re due. People may push back at first, but in the end, you’ll earn the loyalty and trust of the ones who really matter.
Relationships in the workplace can be a touchy area to navigate, especially if you’re new or haven’t made the effort before. Remember that your part of any relationship always starts with you. Be your best self, lead from the front, and be open and honest with the people in your workplace. Do great work and include others in collaborative opportunities. And don’t forget to communicate effectively and show up for others. Your workplace relationships will be thriving in no time.
Last Updated on by Icy Tales Team