Struggling with relationships in the workplace? You’re not alone – a lot of our clients are interested in improving business relationships and creating balance in the workplace. Whether you’re new to business or you’ve been around for a while, it never hurts to take a look at the health of your business relationships and determine where you can make some improvements.
We’ve put together 5 quick tips you can start using right now to start improving business relationships between you and those you work with. Set aside some time this week to reflect on and practice these tips, then see if you can come up with some of your own.
1. Regular Practice of Self-Care
Showing up for yourself awards you with the capacity to show up for others. Practicing self-care on a daily basis can help you respond to life’s challenges in a productive way. Just a few minutes of self-care time can make all the difference in emotionally regulating and building capacity to support your employees.
2. Acknowledge What We Don’t Know
Communicating openly and honestly, even if it means acknowledging that you don’t know something, show those in your workplace that you are self-aware and helps create a supportive working environment.
3. Admit When We Are Wrong
Like acknowledging what we don’t know, admitting when we are wrong shows self-awareness and emotional intelligence. You may feel pressure to get everything right all the time, but it’s okay if you don’t. What matters is how you respond to challenges and that you’re setting an example for others to do the same.
4. Get to Know Those in Your Workplace
As humans, we all want to feel appreciated, and that can look different for everyone. Some might appreciate words of affirmation while others might appreciate a morning coffee as a thank you for their help.
5. Talk About the Hard Stuff
Acknowledge when there are changes in the organization and how they might affect your colleagues, team, and customers. Validate feelings surrounding challenges and changes and make sure others know that you are there for them and you’re on their team.
We’ll be the first to admit- these tips are simple, but implementing them doesn’t always come easy (and that’s ok!). Change takes time, patience, and practice, and relationships can be tricky. Just start somewhere – anywhere – and build from there. You can do this.
Want help improving business relationships in your workplace? Our expert business relationship coaches can help. Learn more here.
