The most important single ingredient in the formula of success                                                                                                       is knowing how to get along with people.                                                                                                                                         – Theodore Roosevelt

It’s something most of us learned in early childhood; getting along with others just makes life easier. Putting yourself out there, gaining the trust of another, and getting the same in return feels good. Relationships at any age are built on mutual respect, understanding, and empathy.

Positive workplace relationships are vital to your career and the success of your team. When you build a bond with the people with whom you spend the majority of your time, you create a community of committed individuals who work together for the greater good of the team, and ultimately, the success of your company.

Building positive relationships within your organization can have a profound personal impact on everyone. It’s valuable to know you can count on your team to have your back, and go to bat for you in the event you need assistance. Taking the time to get to know others, building trust, and committing to a shared vision makes for a happier and more successful environment all around.

Here are eight great tips to help you and your team members create a rewarding workplace experience. Utilize these tips when you interact with management, team members, clients, and vendors, and even in your personal life and you’ll be amazed by the results!

Give Your Time and Presence

These days, time is one of the most precious commodities. A great percentage of the workforce attempt to multi-task, handling much of their to-do list via texting, email, and face-to-face communication, frequently at the same time. That being the case,

How present are you with others? Practice being truly present with those with whom you are engaged. Don’t think ten steps ahead, and don’t dwell on a previous event. It’s impossible to make a positive connection without giving the gift of your full presence. Being present isn’t a magic pill that will make you a great member, solve all your problems, or “fix you”. But like regular exercise, it can be helpful in several ways. When you devote your attention, energy, and effort it rarely goes unnoticed, nor unappreciated. People value individuals who are present, engaged, and listen to what they have to say.

Listen to Your Team

Relationship of any kind starts with interaction. If you don’t make yourself approachable, it’ll be very hard to develop any type of relationship.

Listening to others is essential to developing trust and building strong relationships.

is coming from and what he or she has to say. I am guilty at times of interrupting, finishing someone’s sentence, and mind reading. How about you, how well do you listen to understand?

Listening to one another isn’t just polite-it’s the cornerstone of relationship building. When you start hearing others, you develop empathy and understanding towards that person which can make your work relationship stronger.

Appreciate Your Differences

Today, the organizations with the greatest competitive advantage are those that create an inclusive environment where people feel like they belong and are valued for their diverse ideas, experiences, and skills. Learning to embrace differences is an essential requirement for appreciating the unique qualities that everyone brings to the workplace. Does your team make the most of the different strengths, personality styles, and capabilities of team members?

Once you open up and actually listen to your team members, you may find a whole new way to relate to them, and the world. Not only will others see you as a forward-thinking leader, but new perspectives lead to fresh viewpoints, breakthroughs, and innovative ideas.

Hone Your Communication Skills

Just as listening to others is crucial to forming a positive relationship, being able to communicate clearly is also vital. Communication is what happens when others understand you just as you understand them. When working on your communication skills, ask yourself what message you’re sending in the way you speak, but also in the way you’re being heard and understood by others.

Make sure your body language and words are congruent and that you’re not sending mixed messages. Poor communication in the workplace can lead to a toxic work culture of gossip, back-stabbing and blame, which, in turn, can affect our stress levels, especially when we don’t understand something or feel we have been misled and misinformed.

Effective communication skills are essential to getting your message across. They also can have a positive effect on morale and motivates individuals to want to come work and do an excellent job. How well do you maintain a positive approach to communicating with your team members?

Rein in Distractions

Cell phones, instant messaging, and the like are often an enormous distraction. People tend to pay much more attention to their mobile devices than the person sitting right in front of them. Just ask the parents of a teenager!

Don’t check messages when you’re with someone. Only take calls in an emergency, and never ask someone to “hold that thought” while you give your attention to your iPhone. It’s not only impolite, it sends a message that what the other person is saying isn’t of any value to you. Make sure you and your team have clear cut expectations when it comes to mobile device etiquette.

Open Up, Take a Risk, and Trust

Trust is the foundation for stable and positive relationships and without trust, any relationship will quickly erode. Trust is about consistency and doing the right thing. Trust is a characteristic that builds respect and loyalty, as well as a supportive, safe, and inclusive work environment.

Do your team members perceive you as trustworthy and honest? How do you perceive them? Are you honest, reliable, and always looking for the best in others?

When you demonstrate authentic trust in your workplace, others will be drawn to you and most often will respond in kind. Opt for the moral high ground in situations of an ethical nature. You’ll be respected and trusted for your character, and you’ll set the stage for others to follow suit.

Give and Accept Feedback

No matter what you do or how well you do it, sooner or later some criticism is eventually going to come your way. And those moments are often some of the toughest we all face in work relationships. Hearing negative things about yourself is probably not your favorite activity, and most of us would rather avoid the discomfort that comes with telling someone else how they could improve.

But what do we lose out on when we avoid these difficult conversations? One of the most important skills of life is being able to give and receive feedback, advice and even criticism. Learning to accept and give constructive feedback can be a challenge.

How well do you provide and receive feedback from team members? What can you do to make giving and receiving feedback a better experience than the uncomfortable one most of us are accustomed to? How can you turn giving and receiving feedback into a valued opportunity for growth and a positive experience?

Feedback, if given and received in the right spirit can lead to progress and growth. When you help your team members engage in solutions, tap into their potential, and stay motivated by the feedback you provide or receive, you’re tilling the ground for positive and mutually beneficial relationships to develop.

Practice Empathy and Understanding

There is an encouraging expression by Maya Angelou that I learned a long time ago: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Empathy and understanding build connection between people. It is a state of relating to someone else’s feelings and needs without giving advice, blaming, or trying to fix or change the situation.

Every relationship we have can teach us something. By building positive work relationships with others, we will be happier, more fulfilled, and feel more supported and connected.

By being intentional about offering support and encouragement where it is needed, you will create positive connections with the members of your team. This connection helps build an atmosphere of trust, where support is given and accepted in a genuine manner. There are no better ingredients for building positive relationships than respect, empathy, and understanding.

Set Boundaries

– Anonymous. The above quote has been a helpful guide for setting boundaries for myself and I hope it will serve you well.

What are boundaries and why are they important? In short, a boundary is a limit defining you in relationship to someone or something. Boundaries serve critical functions. They clarify what our responsibility is and what is another’s. Boundaries help preserve our physical and emotional energy, keep us focused on ourselves, to help live our values, and to identify our personal limits.

Don’t neglect to set boundaries as you develop these workplace relationships. These parameters need to be clear and understood (a good way to practice those communication skills). Don’t allow your home life to be disturbed unless it’s an emergency.

Creating a workplace environment where everyone gets along is a challenge. Remember positive relationships are essential to team building. Lead by example, and you’ll soon have a strong, united team focused on success.

Bringing It All Together

These strategies may be common sense, but rarely are they common practice. They can balance an agenda-oriented workplace and help keep the wheels of business turning in collaborative and productive manner.

How many of these tips do you practice on a consistent basis? Remember if we want things to be different, we have to do things differently. If we want things better, we have to do things better. Pick one tip and commit to making it better and you will be on your way to happier and healthier workplace relationships.

We can and do learn from each other, and I would love to add your ideas to a future post. Please share your best suggestions for building strong relationships in teams?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Tim Crowley

Motivational Keynote Speaker, Leadership and Resilience Expert

Dr. Tim Crowley’s passion is to help build strong teams to strengthen organizations and to produce breakthrough results. His services have touched the lives of leaders in some of the most recognizable companies in the world. Including AT&T, Boehringer – Ingelheim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ernst & Young, Hallmark, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, Marriot, Microsoft, Nestle-Purina, along with numerous organizations, universities, state and federal agencies.

When not keynoting, leading workshops, and blogging he looks for inspiration through mountain biking, volunteering, and spending time with his family and friends. https://drtimcrowley.com