How do You Build Strong Workplace Relations?
by Barbara Beccari
There is no doubt that the “key issues of performance, productivity and profit cannot be divorced from how people are relating with each other in the workplace”. “Coaching to the Human Soul”, Alan Sieler 2003.
When workplaces operate according to the following Seven Ways, colleagues connect more effectively and workplace functioning improves. Reflect upon these coaching questions:
Respect
What can you do to really show your colleagues you respect them? Talking about their qualities is a really great start. “Your organisational ability really shone through today when you supported me in that meeting.”
Listening
How can you really listen deeply to your colleagues? Will it be that you will take more time to ask them questions that really open up the conversation so that their opinions will be heard? Three simple words can help with this: “Tell me more.”
Understanding
Do you really listen to understand your colleagues? Do you know who they really are and how they feel? This is something that is easy to ignore in a hectic and busy workplace. If you take the time to know more about staff outside of work you will get to know more about them as human beings, rather than just seeing what they do at work.
Appreciation
How do you show your colleagues that you appreciate what they do? Do you tell them? What else do you do to acknowledge the positive things being achieved by others? Often in the workplace focus is placed on the negatives but if we show more appreciation for the many positives, workers will be more inclined to strive towards their full potential and the workplace will become one where staff want to be.
Support
What support do you have in your workplace? How do you show support to other colleagues? What are you doing to promote a culture of cooperation at work? When staff feel supported they are more likely to take on new challenges and productivity can improve.
Responsibility
Are you clear about your responsibilities at work and how to meet them? How do you encourage responsibility in others? How do you avoid going into “control mode” when responsibilities are not being met? Adults don’t like to be told what to do! So how do you encourage responsibility without the “telling”?
Independence
What choices do you have in how you do your work? How much choice do you offer others in their work practice? When we provide choices we are supporting others by giving them some power and independence in how they complete tasks, which both enhances relationships and can lead to improved workplace functioning and productivity.
Which of these Seven Ways will you consider to build strong workplace relations in your organisation?
About the author Barbara Beccari M.Ed is principal of Need2Connect, a coaching business promoting connected relationships for work or home. Professionals are supported to reflect on practical strategies for improved workplace relationships, well-being and work-life balance. Parents of babies to teens through parent-coaching are supported to think differently about their parenting role and are offered strategies for what is the most difficult (and rewarding!) job that people will ever do. Check out www.need2connect.com.au to find out more about building connected relationships in the workplace or with family.
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