How to improve personal relationships in the workplace

The number of people that link their social and professional lives is at a constant increase. This is due to numerous reasons. For instance, we no longer have as much free time as we used to in order to socialize, we aren’t as sociable, we are in a constant rush to deal with the rest of our affairs we barely have time for after work, we assume the role of taxi drivers in the afternoon for our children and we haven’t a minute to spare for a cup of coffee, or anything else for that matter.
As a result, we find ourselves counting on our workplace to socialize and make friends. However, due to the very nature of the workplace, the competition, the pressure, the stress, the distrust, friendships among colleagues flourish with great difficulty.

Still, are we at all capable of maintaining good relations in the workplace?
No matter how irrational it may sound, yes we are.
Certain things exist that, if followed by everyone, can improve the relationships among people and can further help develop friendships:

• Listening. We need to listen when the other person is speaking, instead of think about how we are going to answer.
• Listening with empathy. That means not simply understanding what the other person is saying, but feeling what they are feeling at that moment.
• A balance between the time we spend talking and listening.
• Whether others understand us or not depends on the way we communicate.
• Remembering that communication is a two-way process, you get what you give.
• Voicing a brief summary of what has been said to confirm understanding, once the other person has finished speaking. 
• Trying to resolve our differences with another person. Ignorance is not a solution.
  

Respect, camaraderie and teamwork are the three key ingredients to achieving a healthy work environment. And once they have been achieved, then with a little effort on our part and by following the above guidelines we will be able to develop and sustain friendships in the workplace.

Bianca Allery
Client Relations Manager