Managing Relationships At Work .

Managing Relationships At Work :

 Relationships are very important for the sustenance of a person. More so, at the workplace these days, where changing office dynamics has made office almost a second home.  An individual spends around seven to eight hours at his workplace and it is practically not possible for him to work all alone. One needs people to talk to and discuss various issues at the workplace. Productivity increases manifold when individuals work in groups as compared to an individual working alone. . Remember, your behavior and attitude at the workplace speaks a lot about you, without taking into account your education, experience or designation. Such is the importance of relations at work. If you do not maintain an appropriate working relationship, everything from evaluation to sanctions can prove more difficult. Employees must get along well for a healthy ambience at the workplace.

Below are various ways of improving interpersonal relationships at workplace:

Be fair : It is critical that you treat all employees exactly the same when dealing with issues of workplace relationships. Consistency is key to guaranteeing fair and equal treatment of a diverse workforce.

No dirty politics please: Don’t play politics at the workplace. Even if you have initial success, in the end, you would actually alienate yourself from the masses. Don’t backbite as it brings negativity at work. Confront the person directly, if you have issues with a person, but always do this separately without discussing him/her with others.

Be professional: When you must speak to employees about their behavior, confine your comments to a completely business-related context. Address issues of productivity, performance, and proper workplace conduct. Leave anything personal out of it.

Be appreciative of others work: Appreciation is the basis for good performance. So, don’t forget to encourage others if there’s good work. Once you do that, you get the same and thus working relationships improve. If you’re a manager, don’t forget to encourage your team members for a good idea. Thanking, appreciating, rewarding and recognizing are very small but important steps to winning the trust and loyalty of fellow employees.

Interact with your co workers more often: Discussions must be on an open platform where every individual has the liberty to express his/her views and opinions. Written mode of communication is one of the effective ways of communicating at the workplace. Make sure your emails are self explanatory and do mark a cc to all related employees. Ignoring any of your co- workers might hurt him and spoil your relationship with the person concerned. Avoid hiding things from your fellow workers.

Communication is important: Keeping the lines of communication between managers and employees open is vital to the health of your business. If your employees feel as if they are never informed of potential changes or that they don't have a voice in the decision-making process, they may start to feel like less valued members of the workplace and, as a result, become disengaged. With this disengagement comes a lack of focus on the job and likely a decrease in productivity, both of which will likely reduce business success.

Be discreet: Don't encourage employees to confide personal information. And remember to keep any confidential information that is entrusted to you strictly to yourself.

Be genuinely nice: Remember, everyone has talent and they are there by virtue of their ability. So, don’t question or pass remarks on others. Try to help others if need be. You wouldn't lose anything but your knowledge sharing will endear you to others. Moreover, people will get closer to you. When talking, don’t be sarcastic or nasty in remarks. Be polite and be respectful as every organization stands for upholding every individual’s respect.

Resolving Conflicts: When conflicts arise between management and employees, problems can ensue. Instead of allowing conflicts to fester, deal with them promptly. Approach employees with whom conflict has arisen and express your desire to quell these issues and return your relationship to healthier ground. In doing so, you can show your willingness to work with the employee cooperatively in overcoming whatever challenges may be preventing harmonious interactions, showing the employee that you care and are eager for a healthy relationship

Outings: Take your team out for lunch, picnics or get together once in a while. Let the employees bring their families as well. Ask your team members to exchange contact numbers amongst themselves for them to interact with each other even after work.

Greetings: Greet your colleagues on their birthdays or anniversaries. Send them a nice card or e-card and do ask for a treat. Such small initiatives go a long way in strengthening the bond among fellow workers. Important festivals must be celebrated at workplace for employees to come closer to each other.

Promote team work :Individuals should be motivated to work in teams. Work must be equally allocated to team members to expect the best out of them. No employee should be overburdened. People working in teams are friendlier and adjust with each other better.

Be flexible: One needs to be a little more adjusting and compromising at the workplace. Don’t expect everything to be done just the way you like it. You will have all types of people around. Avoid fighting over petty things. Do not always look at the negative side of things. Accept people as they are. It is essential to look at the positive side of an individual. Being flexible at work always helps.

Avoid being jealous: Leave your ego behind the moment you enter the workplace. Appreciate if someone has performed exceptionally well. Remember only hard work and nothing else pays in the long run.

Be punctual: It’s very important for you to be punctual at office. It is also imperative that you meet your deadlines. After all everyone is accountable for their work. So, keep your commitments, as this will ensure good working relationships.

Never indulge in blame-game: This is the worst practice and will drive people away from you. If there’s a mistake, figure out how it can be rectified and not who has done it. If you always look at the end-product, your relationship with others will improve automatically and people look up to you.

Team leaders and supervisors should conduct morning meetings with their team members. Do not make the meeting too formal. The employees should be allowed to bring their coffee mugs. Let them interact with each other. Morning meetings go a long way in breaking the ice among employees and improving interpersonal relationships at workplace.

All the best….wishing you a GREAT CAREER !!!