Cultivating relationships with people at work is essential for two reasons. It helps you to get your work finished smoothly on a day-to-day basis and it also helps you to get ahead. Plus, it’s just more pleasant to go to a workplace where you’re getting along with people. It helps to reduce stress and anxiety. And you’re much more likely to enjoy your job when you’re not in the middle of office politics.
Getting Your Work Done Smoothly Every Day
You may not realize it but your normal, everyday tasks are also dependent on other people. For example, if you’re a salesperson, you won’t be able to speak to your clients unless your receptionist transfers your calls to you. Similarly, you’re dependent on your assistant to type up letters, screen phone calls and do a lot of grunt work for your projects. So it’s necessary for you to get along with both.
Getting Ahead in Your Career
The other reason why it’s necessary to get along with people at work is because it helps you to get ahead. An office assistant who has good relationships with everyone in the office is more likely to get promoted to office manager as time goes on and the position becomes available.
The Introversion-Extroversion Spectrum
Cultivating relationships at work is easier said than done. Most people have some degree of social anxiety. There are very few people who are completely extroverted and gregarious. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between introversion and extroversion. So we might have to make an effort to develop relationships with our team members.
Group Situations vs. One-on-One
If you feel uncomfortable in group situations, how about one-on-one? Take your team members out to lunch one at a time and get to know them. Everyone loves to talk about their friends, their family, their interests etc. At first glance, you might feel like you don’t have anything in common with your team members. But eventually, you might end up trading books, playing tennis or even giving relationship advice.
Accepting Setbacks with Grace
Another thing which often gets in the way of two people cultivating a relationship is competition. When two people are being pitted against each other, they might feel like they have no choice but to be rivals. However, the best thing to do in this case is to develop a spirit of sportsmanship. No matter how unnatural it feels, wish your competitor good luck. And if they get the promotion you wanted, congratulate them. Everyone will notice that you’ve accepted the situation with grace, which will help you in the future.
Based on this article we recommend you read: How To Cope With Being Turned Down For a Dream Job, 4 Self-Care Tips to Avoid Job Burn-Out, and Is Your Social Media Keeping You From Landing The Job?
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