How to Build Better Relationships in the Workplace

Posted by admin on February 7, 2010 under Business Coaching Services | Be the First to Comment

When it comes to the workplace, what matters most is respect: respect for the abilities each person brings to the workplace. In every office, we encounter several different personality types and backgrounds, as well as cultural factors. In that regard, the best course to take is to identify what you and your co-workers have in common, in order to build a better team and best serve your clients.

Identifying commonalities sounds easy enough, but it can be harder than we expect. For one thing, human beings naturally notice differences first, and it takes effort to dig beneath them. Here are some strategies that will help us humanize our work relationships.

Focus on the basics. All human beings share four basic needs: physical comfort and survival, security, dignity and social support. Admittedly, different groups of people may meet these needs differently. The trick is to recognize that, despite the different ways in which the need is met, the desire for the support of other human beings lies beneath the surface of every culture.

What’s really important here? Have the courage to talk about the things that are most important to you. All too often, we shy away from someone who is different than ourselves, rather than reaching out to people with what matters to us. Different people may place their emphasis and priorities in different places, but fundamental human needs and interests are the same.

Be positive. It may not happen right away, but there is a benefit to reaching out to someone that goes far beyond just your conversation’s specifics. The very act of attempting to connect to someone different shows respect that can only serve as a foundation for future communication.