How to Develop Positive Work Relationships

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The people you work with can make or break your job satisfaction levels. Building positive workplace relationships can help you work together, be more productive, and enjoy your job even more. While it might take some time to truly get to know your colleagues, there are a few things you can do today to start strengthening your workplace relationships.

1

Get to know your co-workers.

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    The next time you are early to a meeting, take a minute to chat with those around you. Small talk might not seem like much, but it can actually help you discover things that you have in common with your officemates. [1]
    • If you’re feeling stuck or you don’t know what to talk about, ask questions. People like to talk about themselves, so start with what they did over the weekend or how their kids are doing.
    • You could say something like, “Hey Harry, how was your long weekend?” or, “Suzie, how were your holidays?”
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2

Find common connections.

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    Try to work out what that is to build a stronger relationship with everyone in your workplace. People like to talk about themselves, so if you get stuck, just ask! [2]
    • Do you both like sports? Do you both go hiking? Are you both into board games? Are your kids around the same ages? Do you both drink tea instead of coffee?
3

Listen actively and attentively.

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    When talking to your co-workers, ask follow-up questions and paraphrase their statements so they know you’re listening. You should also try to maintain eye contact and face the person you’re talking to so you look open and attentive. [3]
    • For example, if your colleague says, “I’m having trouble with my report.” Ask a follow-up question like, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
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4

Be respectful of everyone you work with.

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    Think about the positive qualities that your co-workers bring to the table to remember that you’re all here for the same reason. [4]
    • If you respect your co-workers, it’s much more likely that they’ll respect you, too.
    • One way to demonstrate respect is to offer positive affirmations. For example, you could say, "Sally, I really admire the way you handled yourself with that difficult client. Not everyone can remain so calm under pressure."
5

Communicate clearly and effectively.

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    Try to be open and honest with your colleagues, and don’t assume anyone knows what you want without explicitly asking for it. This goes for emails, text messages, phone calls, and face-to-face interactions. [5]
    • Choose your words carefully. Make sure that you clearly articulate your points and state exactly what you mean. This will help avoid confusion about goals or expectations.
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6

Try to maintain a positive attitude.

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    You don’t have to show up with a smile on your face every day, but try to look on the bright side of situations instead of bringing people down. Chances are, your co-workers will look forward to seeing you if you have a good attitude. [6]
    • A negative attitude might make people hesitant to interact with you throughout the workday.
    • For example, if your team missed a deadline, you could focus on the positive by saying, “well, at least we’ll know how to manage our time better for the next project.”
7

Forgive people for their mistakes.

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    If your co-worker or colleague makes a mistake, try to move past it as quickly as you can. [7]
    • For example, if your co-worker forgot to send an email to a client, just ask them to set better reminders for themselves next time.
    • Think about how you’d like to be treated if you made a mistake, then treat your co-worker the same way.
    • You should also try not to hold grudges once you’ve moved past the mistake.
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8

Take constructive criticism.

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    Allow your co-workers or colleagues to tell you how you could be doing better (respectfully, of course). [8]
    • Constructive criticism can help you improve both as a worker and as a colleague, so it benefits everyone.
9

Offer to help when you can.

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    Don’t take on more work than you can handle, but offer to assist your colleague so they don’t feel so stressed.
    • For example, if your co-worker needs help compiling reports, you could offer to organize their files for them.
    • Sometimes helping a co-worker or colleague isn’t possible, in which case you can just give moral support or words of advice instead.
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10

Avoid gossiping about others.

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    If your co-workers try to engage you in gossip, politely steer the conversation the other way. [9]
    • If you’re the boss, you could institute a “no gossip” rule. While you can’t make your employees follow this, it’s still nice to set the expectation.
    • For example, if someone tries to talk about another co-worker with you, you could say something like, “Oh, I haven’t heard about that. But I’ve been meaning to ask you—how are you liking your new house?”
11

Stay away from assumptions.

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    However, assuming something without proof can lead to resentment. Try not to assume anything about your co-workers to avoid unnecessary negativity. [10]
    • This is especially true for online communication, like emails. Since you can’t hear their tone of voice, you might assign it a negative one instead of a neutral or even positive one.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What are positive working relationships?
    Lauren Krasny
    Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach
    Lauren Krasny is a Leadership and Executive Coach and the Founder of Reignite Coaching, her professional and personal coaching service based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also currently coaches for the LEAD Program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business and is a former Digital Health Coach for Omada Health and Modern Health. Lauren received her coaching training from the Coach Training Institute (CTI). She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan.
    Lauren Krasny
    Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach
    Expert Answer
    Generally speaking, a positive working relationship is one founded on mutual respect. So long as you have a friendly rapport, a good understanding of everyone's duties, and a productive and collaborative relationship at work, it's a positive working relationship.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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  • Question
    How do you communicate with colleagues at work?
    Lauren Krasny
    Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach
    Lauren Krasny is a Leadership and Executive Coach and the Founder of Reignite Coaching, her professional and personal coaching service based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also currently coaches for the LEAD Program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business and is a former Digital Health Coach for Omada Health and Modern Health. Lauren received her coaching training from the Coach Training Institute (CTI). She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan.
    Lauren Krasny
    Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach
    Expert Answer
    Start by being open and honest with them at all times. Establish open lines of communication so there's a constant back-and-forth between you. Additionally, tell them exactly what you need from them and when you need it so everyone is on the same page.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
  • Question
    How do you get to know new colleagues?
    Lauren Krasny
    Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach
    Lauren Krasny is a Leadership and Executive Coach and the Founder of Reignite Coaching, her professional and personal coaching service based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also currently coaches for the LEAD Program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business and is a former Digital Health Coach for Omada Health and Modern Health. Lauren received her coaching training from the Coach Training Institute (CTI). She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan.
    Lauren Krasny
    Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach
    Expert Answer
    Engage in some small talk to get to know them. Ask them questions and really listen to their answers. Keep these conversations short, but have them on a regular basis.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      References

      1. ↑ Lauren Krasny. Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach. Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/03/03/15-ways-to-build-better-co-worker-relationships-for-a-more-positive-workplace/?sh=5a6293326e71
      3. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/03/03/15-ways-to-build-better-co-worker-relationships-for-a-more-positive-workplace/?sh=5a6293326e71
      4. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/03/03/15-ways-to-build-better-co-worker-relationships-for-a-more-positive-workplace/?sh=5a6293326e71
      5. ↑ Lauren Krasny. Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach. Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.
      6. ↑ https://hr.uoregon.edu/employee-labor-relations/workplace-climate/tips-building-positive-workplace-climate
      7. ↑ https://hbr.org/2015/12/proof-that-positive-work-cultures-are-more-productive
      8. ↑ https://hr.uoregon.edu/employee-labor-relations/workplace-climate/tips-building-positive-workplace-climate
      9. ↑ https://hr.uoregon.edu/employee-labor-relations/workplace-climate/tips-building-positive-workplace-climate
      1. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/03/03/15-ways-to-build-better-co-worker-relationships-for-a-more-positive-workplace/?sh=5a6293326e71

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Developing positive work relationships is an important part of any job. Whenever you’re communicating with your coworkers by email, phone, or face to face, try to be as clear as possible. This will prevent any misunderstandings that could cause office drama. You should also be reliable and take responsibility for your work so your coworkers can count on you. Get to know your colleagues during breaks and outside of work. The better you know them, the easier it will be to work with them. Try to be positive, even when you’re having a bad day, which will make your colleagues happier and cooperate better. If you have an issue with someone, deal with it calmly and politely. This will help you work better together even if you don’t like them. For more tips, including how to get along with coworkers who are different from you, read on!

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