As a graduate entering the workforce for the first time, either through a graduate program or a graduate role, you must have the skills to build positive working relationships with your colleagues. This article will explain what working relations are, why they are important, and will provide tips on how to build them.
What is a working relationship?
A working relationship is the connection that you form with your colleagues in the workplace. It can also include any other interaction that you may have with other individuals while you are working. This connection differs from relationships with other people in your lives, including friends and family. It is therefore important for you to be able to identify what a working relationship is and how it is distinguished from other relationships that you may have. Personal relationships are more intimate, while working relationships are grounded in professionalism and aim to ensure that the workplace is a respectful environment where all employees can work collaboratively and productively.
Why are working relationships important?
It is important for all graduates to build strong working relationships no matter the field or type of work they aim to pursue. This is for a range of reasons, including:
Teamwork
Positive working relationships are especially important in places of employment where employees are required to work together. This is because a positive working relationship promotes respect, open communication, consideration, and empathy. This allows you to work alongside your colleagues collaboratively with a decreased likelihood of conflict, thus positively impacting your ability to work efficiently and productively.
Morale
A workplace that reflects positive working relationships has improved morale and increased employee satisfaction. Conflict is unlikely, and if it does occur, it is handled with respect and consideration.
Productivity
Employees become more productive if they are cooperative with their colleagues. You have the skills to work as a team, delegate tasks, and reach out for support.
Personal Growth
A positive working relationship can develop your interpersonal skills, allowing for both professional and personal growth. You become more adept at a range of soft skills, making you a more desirable candidate for promotions and future job opportunities.
How to build working relationships?
It is vital that you have a comprehensive understanding of how to build positive working relationships. Follow these tips when beginning your graduate position or graduate program to facilitate strong connections with your new colleagues.
Open Communication
All graduates should be able to communicate openly with their colleagues and supervisors. Communication encompasses both the ability to speak and to listen. You should speak clearly, concisely, and truthfully when relaying information to your co-workers. This reduces the chance of miscommunication or misunderstanding, which can stymie workflow. You should also participate in active listening, which means to not only listen to what is being communicated to you, but processing the information to understand its meaning and the perspective of the speaker. This can help reduce conflict and increase productivity. Open communication is important as it makes individuals feel valued and respected. Your co-workers will appreciate your transparency when you relay relevant information to them and your openness when you listen to what they have to say.
Practice Empathy
Often in workplaces, intimate or personal details are shared between employees as they become more familiar and comfortable. It is important to practice empathy in the workplace. This means to understand the personal circumstances of a colleague if they are experiencing something difficult in their personal life. It may also mean being mindful of what you say and how you act to ensure that you do not come across as insensitive.
Be Reliable
One common complaint employees might have about their colleagues is if they are unreliable. This means that they fail to adhere to their deadlines or promises. You should always be consistently trustworthy and reliable in the workplace. This means that if you have a deadline, you should complete the task by that date. If you have promised a co-worker that your particular contribution to a project will be finished by a particular date, make sure to stick by your promise. This will demonstrate to your colleagues that you are a reliable and honest worker that they can count on.
Offer Support
You should also be prepared to offer your assistance or support to others, especially if you are team members or tend to work collaboratively. This shows your considerate and supportive nature, and will allow you to develop positive relationships with your colleagues. This will help to foster a supportive environment in the workplace.
Refrain from Gossip
One of the pitfalls of working relationships is gossip. Gossip will instantly rupture any trust or respect that you have built for yourself in the workplace. It will only demonstrate to your fellow colleagues negative character traits. Even if other employees are gossiping, to maintain your reputation in the workplace and your respect for your colleagues, it is best to not take part in it. Furthermore, conflict should not be resolved with malicious gossip. There are more appropriate avenues for conflict resolution, and gossip only suggests immaturity. Instead, you should attempt to have an honest and respectful conversation about the issue or make a complaint with a human resources representative or your manager.
Be Positive
Bring a positive attitude to the workplace. Negativity is a discouraging trait that can influence the morale of the people around you. It is particularly important to remain positive when feeling stressed. This is because it can help your fellow team members remain encouraged. Your coworkers are also more likely to gravitate towards someone with a positive attitude, and you are more likely to be respected in the workplace.
Consult Code of Conduct Guidelines
Before you begin a new role, it is important to carefully read the company’s code of conduct rules and guidelines. This can provide you with more information about what is considered appropriate workplace behaviour. It may also establish boundaries for personal and intimate relationships between colleagues. This information can help you abide by your company’s requirements and prevent any misconduct infractions. You can also consult the hiring manager or conduct research into the company to get a better sense of the company culture. Some workplaces promote a very casual or laid back working environment as they believe it promotes productivity, while others require strict professionalism. This information can inform you on what to expect before you commence the role.
Have Self-Awareness
You should have self-awareness in the workplace. This means understanding and accepting your strengths and weaknesses. This information can help you manage your work, improve your productivity, and collaborate more effectively with your coworkers by developing strategies for any weaknesses that may impair you in the workplace. For example, if you have poor time management skills, being self-aware can allow you to implement tools that can keep you on track and prevent your colleagues from becoming frustrated by missed deadlines. Self-awareness also means having the ability of recognising and accepting your mistakes. While this is difficult to do, it often signifies maturity and personal growth.
Acceptance
You should have acceptance for all your colleagues. This means being respectful of their differences, and can also include accepting the authority and expertise of your supervisors.
Read more about how you can introduce yourself to new co-workers as a grad here.