Five ways to build strong relationships

As humans we’re naturally sociable, so it makes sense that the better our relationships, the happier we are. This applies to our personal life but also to our workplace - good relationships with people you work with every day will result in you feeling happier, more engaged and productive.

All jobs require interaction at some time, so relationships are crucial. Positive work relationships can have a range of benefits. It also just makes going to work more enjoyable.

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

Good relationships rely on good communication, whether it’s face-to-face, on the telephone or email. Being open, honest and professional helps establish trust and rapport.

Listening is just as important as talking. Active listening is a valuable skill to develop and helps build trust. Focus on what people say and take time to consider before responding.

2. Develop people skills

This means your ability to relate to others. Developing your own people skills will help you build successful relationships. For example, how you deal with conflict and understand your own strengths and weaknesses.

You can also work on your emotional intelligence - this is the ability to recognise how your emotions affect you and those around you.

3. Respect and appreciate others

Appreciating others is a powerful relationship builder. Make time for everyone, regardless of their role – don’t just focus on impressing senior staff.

If you commit to something, make sure you complete the task. Always try to meet deadlines and deliver on promises or requests. Essentially, treat others as you’d 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

It can be tempting to get involved in gossip and office politics to feel like part of things, but don’t take part. Keep a professional attitude and address any issues in a positive way.

Think of all the positives you can bring to the workplace, ask questions, speak up in meetings, have an opinion and support the opinion of others.