Five ways to build strong relationships

We are social creatures by nature, so it stands to reason that happy people tend to have stronger relationships. This holds true for both our personal and professional lives; having positive interactions with those you work with every day will make you feel happier, more engaged, and more productive.

Relationships are essential because interaction is required by all jobs at some point. There are several advantages to having good working relationships. Additionally, it simply makes coming to work more pleasurable.

What are the benefits?

The main benefits of good working relationships are:

• Increased productivity – when people get along, they are naturally more productive
• Improved morale – you’ll be generally happier at work
• Effective teamwork – good relationships will positively impact working as a team
• Good for personal growth – you can benefit from the knowledge of your co-workers and feel encouraged to succeed in your role

• Five ways to build strong relationships

• Here are our five top ways for establishing strong relationships in work.

• 1. Have open and honest communications

• Effective communication is essential for healthy relationships, whether it be verbally, in writing, or over the phone. Building rapport and trust requires being upfront, truthful, and professional.

  Just as crucial as speaking is listening. Building trust is made easier by developing the skill of active listening. Pay attention to what others are saying and give it some thought before you react.

• 2. Develop people skills

• This refers to your interpersonal skills. Your ability to relate to people successfully will increase as you develop your own people skills. As an illustration, consider your approach to conflict and your awareness of your own strengths and flaws.

  Additionally, you can work on developing your emotional intelligence, which is the capacity to understand how your emotions affect you and people around you.

• 3. Respect and appreciate others

• A strong relationship-builder is expressing gratitude to people. Don't only concentrate on impressing senior workers; make time for everyone, regardless of their role.

  When you make a commitment, follow through on it. Always make an effort to adhere to deadlines and fulfill requests or promises. Basically, you should treat people how you want to be treated.

• 4. Accept support and be supportive

• Offering up your time, experience and expertise proves your value and can help build positive relationships. So be proactive, help others and if there’s an opportunity to assist with something – take it. As well as offering up your own expertise, don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice. Generally, people are happy to offer support and like to feel helpful so take advantage of their skills and knowledge.

• 5. Be positive

• Keep a professional demeanor and address any issues in a positive way. Consider all the positives you can bring to the workplace, ask questions, speak up in meetings, have an opinion, and support the opinion of others. It can be tempting to get involved in gossip and office politics to feel like part of things, but don't take part.