Building Healthy Relationships in the Workplace
Written by: Olivia Ventra, Health Fitness Specialist
Our work world makes up an extensive part of our lives, so it makes sense that the people we are around all day and forced to collaborate with are one of the biggest influences on our satisfaction and happiness at work. Whether it is in person or virtual, building relationships in the workplace is not an item that can get checked off your to-do list once. It should, however, be amongst your top priorities because it affects a large amount of our personal and professional lives.
I have always been the “keep your head down and get your work done” type and truthfully, I didn’t strive to cultivate strong relationships with my co-workers pre-pandemic. That’s not to say I didn’t get along with my co-workers, but I did not take the initiative to start conversations or learn about others’ experiences because my mindset was focused on “work work work”.
This year of virtual work has allowed me to see my coworkers in a different light and to take the initiative to get to know each other better while building camaraderie. I began to take the time to seek out what I could improve. I started asking questions, being more honest, recognizing biases and keeping an open mind, making meetings memorable, being supportive through tough situations, and providing feedback that was more than opinions. I was surprised to see how much my day-to-day improved when my relationships were strengthened.
The first step to improving (or beginning) solid relationships with your coworkers is to show them you want to know and work with them better.
This month our talented content writers bring you expert tips on how to build connections with coworkers to create a more conducive and enjoyable work environment.