5 Key Factors in Building Effective Relationships with your Colleagues.

Healthy, effective relationships in the workplace are an essential ingredient in both the performance and efficiency of teams and the overall business. Collaboration and culture are fundamental within a business, not only does it boost morale, but it also drives success by working cooperatively and effectively with your colleagues.

Humans have a basic need for belonging and connection and we are intrinsically motivated to develop and maintain personal bonds with others. A lack of interpersonal relationships can negatively impact our health, our ability to adjust and our overall wellbeing. We have all experienced, no doubt, some challenging colleagues in our past, possibly currently and most likely in our future workplaces. By implementing a positive relationship from the beginning and mutual respect, we can learn to understand how our colleagues like to work and ensure a concrete foundation is built from the beginning.

So what key factors are important to building an effective working relationship with your colleagues?

  1. Open Communication: open communication is a vital part of day to day life, whether it’s in the workplace or in your social and personal relationships. Encouraging open communication by asking questions and understanding one another’s needs and points of view, is the first step to ongoing and open communication.

  2. Acceptance: Understanding one another and appreciating each other’s role is an important element. Accepting that people will have different points of view and opinions. Being open to learning from your colleagues’ experiences and suggestions, could increase the overall quality of work and output.

  3. Trust: Putting trust in your colleagues and being able to rely on them and vouch for them, is an important characteristic when building relationships. To build trust, you need accountability and guidelines. Be clear in setting expectations and also meeting them yourself.

  4. Respect: As the famous saying goes, “you can’t demand respect, you earn it.” By delivering when you say you will deliver and being present in the workplace and adding your contributions to the team, will be achieved, organically. Remember to respect everybody’s contribution and different views.

  5. Team Player: Ask if someone needs help, be a part of their success and help them succeed. Identify if someone is feeling uneasy or over worked and lend an ear to help resolve or lighten the workload.

Share this article

Useful links

Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialisat recruitment consultants across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Contact us
Olivia Heffer • March 17, 2021

Recent insights

By Rachel Adams May 19, 2024
In today's dynamic work environment, flexibility is paramount. As the needs and expectations of the modern workforce continue to evolve, employers are increasingly adopting adaptable work arrangements to meet diverse needs and enhance productivity. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of adaptable work arrangements and how they address the evolving demands of today's workforce while optimizing for search engine visibility.
By Hamish Lamberton May 12, 2024
In recent years, the rise of remote work has revolutionized the way companies approach recruitment. With advancements in technology and a growing acceptance of virtual communication tools, many organizations are now embracing remote recruitment strategies to attract and hire top talent. In this blog post, we'll explore how companies are adapting to virtual hiring processes and the strategies they're employing to succeed in this new era of recruitment.
By Esha Nischol May 8, 2024
In today's rapidly evolving landscape, automation is reshaping industries and transforming the way we work. While automation offers numerous benefits, including increased efficiency and productivity, it also presents challenges and uncertainties for the workforce. Understanding the opportunities and challenges of automation on employment is crucial for individuals and organizations alike as we navigate the future of work.

UK's 2024 Employment and Salary Trends Report

Salary trends, talent attraction and retention strategies

Have your say in the future of work
Share by: