Are you struggling to foster strong relationships in the workplace? You aren’t alone – studies have shown that 85% of the United States workforce has experienced conflict at work. Poor workplace relationships can impact the mental well-being of individuals and teams, which, in turn, impacts performance, productivity, and ultimately, the bottom line. Don’t worry if relationships don’t necessarily come easy to you – relating in positive, affirming ways is a skill that can be learned and honed.
If you want to improve workplace relationships, here are 5 tips can start implementing today. If you manage a team, see how they respond to some of the ideas below. If you aren’t in management, see if you can get management to implement some of these for the team.
- Ensure Mutual Trust and Respect
While this may seem like a simple concept, it is crucial that leaders and senior teams at your organization lead by example by engaging in honest conversations and showing respect for all team members. - Set Up Weekly One-On-Ones
A quick and easy way to make sure that your team stays connected is through weekly one-on-one meetings between team leads and team members. You can use this time to discuss current priorities and challenges and to build a relationship that is not based solely on tasks and business contributions. - Host Monthly Team Building Exercises
Improving employee morale is one way to ensure that your team can work through challenges, support each other, and communicate openly. Hosting monthly team building exercises like an escape room, mini golf, or dinner can help your employees feel valued and appreciated. - Hire a Corporate Speaker
A corporate speaker can be a great way to inspire your workforce and build a foundation for positive and effective relationships. Our Founder and CEO, Jessica Yaffa is an experienced corporate speaker dedicated to helping your team with effective and positive communication. Contact us today at jessica@jessicayaffa.org to learn more about the institute’s workplace relationship training and presentations. - Emphasize Open Communication
Employees should have open communication channels outside of email. Consider using a chat software like Slack where coworkers can easily connect and collaborate.
Think about some ways you can incorporate the above tips to improve workplace relationships this week. Don’t forget that change takes time and practice, so don’t despair if you don’t get the hang of it right away. Of course, we’re here for you if you get stuck, and we believe you can do this.
Want to improve improve workplace relationships? Book a Workplace Relationships Training session and let one of our experts help you foster healthier connections at work.
