Positive workplace relationships are vital to professional success and personal satisfaction; investing in them will pay dividends throughout your career.

As a leader and a professional, If you desire to create long-term fulfilling relationships with your peers and teams, then the starting point is to accept that you have to be very intentional about it.

While some relationships grow organically for various reasons e.g. common interests, like-minded ideas, etc, some need deliberate attention and investment of time and energy to grow.

Why Does It Matter?

In the working world, where people are getting increasingly isolated due to the hybrid/remote nature of work, employees who enjoy positive relationships with each other experience high morale and motivation levels.

Workplace relationships impact more than just your mood—they shape the overall organizational culture and influence productivity. Strong relationships lead to:

• Improved communication: Open lines of communication reduce misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

• Increased trust: Trust allows employees to rely on one another, fostering collaboration and problem-solving.

• Higher engagement and satisfaction: Employees who feel connected to their coworkers are more likely to be engaged and satisfied with their work.

• Career growth: Networking with colleagues can open doors to new opportunities, mentorship, and professional development.

• Conflict resolution: Strong relationships can mitigate tensions and make it easier to resolve conflicts constructively.

Steps In Building Relationships

Below are five tips to help you build relationships in the workplace.

1. Be Approachable and Accessible

Your attitude and body language play a significant role in how others perceive you. Being approachable can encourage coworkers to initiate interactions and collaborate with you.

How to appear more approachable:

• Keep an open posture, such as uncrossed arms and relaxed shoulders.

• Smile and greet coworkers warmly when you see them.

• Make time for others, whether it’s a quick chat in the hallway or a scheduled coffee break.

• Keep your office door open, if possible, or signal that you're available for questions or conversations.

• Use inclusive language, avoiding jargon or overly technical terms that might make others feel excluded.

Making yourself accessible creates a welcoming environment where people feel comfortable engaging with you, which is the foundation of building lasting relationships.

2. Practice Active Listening

One of the foundational elements of building strong workplace relationships is effective communication, and at the heart of effective communication is active listening.

When you listen actively, you're fully engaged in understanding the other person’s perspective.

Active listening tips:

• Make eye contact to show engagement.

• Nod or give verbal cues (such as "I see" or "I understand") to show that you’re following the conversation.

• Avoid interrupting, even if you have a point to make. Let the speaker finish their thoughts.

• Reflect back on what was said by summarizing or paraphrasing, which demonstrates understanding.

By practicing active listening, you not only gain a deeper understanding of your colleagues’ needs and ideas but also show that you value their input, laying the foundation for trust and respect.

3. Be Genuine

When you show up as your true self at work, others are more likely to trust you and feel comfortable around you. Trying to present a façade or being overly polished can backfire, making colleagues feel as though they are not seeing the real you.

Tips for being authentic:

• Share appropriate personal stories to humanize yourself and find common ground.

• Admit when you don’t know something, instead of pretending to have all the answers.

• Be honest in your feedback, offering constructive criticism that aims to help, not criticize.

By being genuine, you make it easier for others to connect with you on a personal level, allowing for deeper and more meaningful professional relationships.

4. Offer Support and Help Others

Building strong workplace relationships is often about how much you contribute to others’ success. Offering help, especially when it's unsolicited, shows that you care about your colleagues' well-being and success.

Ways to offer support:

• Help a coworker who is struggling with a task by offering advice or guidance.

• Recognize when someone is stressed or overwhelmed and ask how you can assist.

• Be a resource for others by sharing knowledge or expertise in areas where you excel.

• Celebrate your coworkers’ achievements by congratulating them on their successes.

Helping others doesn’t only improve your relationships with those individuals; it contributes to a positive work culture, where employees feel supported by one another.

5. Show Gratitude and Appreciation

Expressing gratitude is an excellent way to foster positive relationships. Recognizing and appreciating others for their contributions makes them feel valued, and this simple act can go a long way in strengthening professional connections.

Ways to show appreciation:

• Send a quick thank-you email or note when a coworker helps you.

• Publicly acknowledge others' contributions in meetings or presentations.

• Offer positive feedback and highlight their strengths when they’ve done a good job.

• Celebrate milestones and accomplishments, such as work anniversaries, promotions, or completed projects.

Gratitude fosters a positive work environment where employees feel recognized for their hard work, which in turn boosts morale and encourages collaboration.

Conclusion

As we have understood, building relationships in the workplace requires time, effort, and intentionality. Relationships are like the seed we sow in our gardens. With the right amount of care and attention from us, they grow into healthy plants that have the ability to give us long-term joy.