WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS

Manilka Ediriweera explains the value of building healthy relations at work

Relationships are integral to our lives. As human beings, we navigate multiple connections with family, friends, partners and colleagues at work; and they add depth and meaning to our lives. Even though relationships can become complicated, they’re more often than not a source of great joy.

Psychologists have said that most of the problems in one’s life tend to stem from unhappy relationships while joy permeates from healthy connections.

What this suggests is that most of our problems revolve around other humans. Studies have revealed that about 85 percent of success in life can be accounted for by our social skills, making the art of mastering relationships an essential skill.

You may have come across people who have an inherent ability to get along with others from the outset. But that’s not always the case.

If you have trouble forming solid relationships, know that it doesn’t have to be that hard. Besides, you can develop the art of relationship mastery, which is an essential skill because it can aid in developing your career and personal life.

This is especially true in today’s context where being a team player is a prerequisite for success.

In today’s corporate world, one’s potential and success do not solely hinge on qualifications and technical skills alone. Success depends on relational intelligence too, which is your ability to connect with people by navigating and managing relationships effectively, and establishing mutual trust.

As psychotherapist Esther Perel says, “the quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives; but equally so, the quality of relationships at work determines the quality of work and our overall ability to succeed.”

In fact, you can even go as far as believing that mastery of relationships and the corporate game go hand in hand. So you can be a genius and get ahead in your career but that alone won’t get you far ahead in this dynamic and globally connected corporate world.

Studies have shown that people with close friends in the workplace are seven times more likely to be engaged and happy in their jobs – and considering that we are social creatures, this isn’t surprising.

So there’s no doubt that healthy relationships at work will make your job far more enjoyable.

And it’s safe to say that strong and positive relationships at work are the cornerstones of strong workplace cultures. At the centre of this journey are collaboration, communication and trust.

Relationships focussed on such values will bring about many benefits including higher engagement, innovation and greater job satisfaction, as they provide a sense of security, comfort and belonging.

However, if your relationships lack such characteristics, they can cause burnout, anxiety, clinical depression and even physical illness. Unpleasant work relationships can make the workplace toxic and affect your prospects of success.

So how do you maintain great relationships in the workplace?

First and foremost, it’s necessary to identify what you expect from a relationship and what’s expected from you. By assessing this in a collaborative setting, you can avoid the friction that can arise from failing to meet expectations.

And you need to develop people skills to maintain good relationships. Make a note of how you communicate, collaborate and deal with conflict to identify any weak areas. Then work towards improving them and developing your emotional intelligence.

When you understand your own emotions better, you will become more adept at identifying and navigating the emotional needs of others.

Clear communication and mindful listening also go a long way towards building strong relationships. While no relationship is entirely devoid of friction and conflict, it’s important to address and resolve such instances in a productive, empathetic and tactful manner.

Most importantly, make time to get to know your colleagues outside the workplace. Get to know who they really are; not only who they are at work. Try to learn as much as possible about them – such as what interests them, for example. And at the same time, be open to sharing your authentic self together with genuine care and interest.

And last but not least, no matter what you do, you should be consistent – this will bring meaning to the relationship and show people their value within it.

Now that you know the importance of work relationships in nurturing productivity and success, and how to master them, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate the quality of your professional relationships.

At the end of the day, all your relationships will influence your life. So cultivate your relational intelligence to build strong connections that are rooted in mutual trust. This will impact all aspects of your life.

Good luck!

You need to develop people skills