What is considered to be a “good relationship”?
I am sure a lot of us can think of various characteristics to describe what a good relationship is. According to Mind Tools, the top qualities or things to look for in a good relationship are as follows:
- Trust
- Respect
- Open Communication
- Self-Awareness & Inclusion
A good relationship requires trust. When you trust the members of your team and the people you spend a majority of your time with, your thoughts and actions can be open and honest. Creativity, innovation, and wisdom can best be shared and enjoyed within a community when there is trust.
Valuing one another’s input, accepting diversity in the workplace and celebrating inclusivity is a surefire way towards respect and mutual bonding. Workplaces can become strong communities of individuals when respect is present.
Open communication allows for deeper connections, understanding, and conversations. When members of a workplace communicate, there is a better likelihood of achieving more together and creating strong bonds that promote happiness in the work environment.
Last, but definitely not least, be aware of yourself and of others. Including people of all backgrounds and embracing them all is a great way for workplaces to build strong relationships and create some wonderful things together.
Most important question to consider: What is most important to YOU?
What are your values, your core values that make up who you are and the things you expect out of life and from yourself and others? Think about what these values are and what they mean to you in and out of the workplace.
Some examples of values could be trust, sincerity, fun, creativity, leadership, communication, integrity, etc. These may or may not be some or all of the values you look for in the people you work with, the environment you find yourself in, the team you surround yourself with, the clients you hope to work with, and much much more! It is important to get curious about your values in order to align them with the jobs you choose to pursue and the culture you hope to embrace and/or build!
To find out more about your own personal values we invite you to complete a brief survey to figure out what makes you tick, what you find important, and what might be some of your non-negotiables in the workplace. Knowing these set of values allows you to have key insight into what types of work environments to pursue, what types of leadership roles and projects you would be best suited for, and most importantly the type of work culture and community you want to surround yourself with most!
5 Tips to Build Strong Work Relationships
We have talked about WHY good relationships are important, and why you should think about what your own personal values are. Now let’s get into the top tips to start creating these strong work relationships.
You bring something to the table, and so do others.
Think about what your own personal relationship needs are. What is your relationship style? What do you need from others, and what can you give to others in your community? Spend some time creating a list of your own personal qualities of what you bring to the table. Then, create a second list of things you know you need from others. Examples can include weekly email communication, in-person check-ins with team members, creating social opportunities to get to know one another, and maybe even company-wide newsletters highlighting and celebrating team members and their accomplishments.
Empower your relationships with intention.
How do you build and empower the relationships around you? Through everything mentioned above! Schedule time, be intentional about getting to know your team, cultivate supportive energy in the workplace, be present, and be positive. Intentionally building something requires consistency, effort, mindfulness, and an appreciation for those you are sharing space with.
Practice Mindfulness, individually and as a team.
Mindfulness is a powerful tool for life in general and can actually be a very effective strategy to use in professional environments. Practicing mindfulness can help to improve appreciation and gratitude amongst your team, you will respond with better awareness and understanding to others, and trust will quickly become a commonplace value amongst the community being built.
Appreciate others and yourself through cultivating strong boundaries.
Boundaries are necessary and important tools for all people to understand and implement in their lives. Professional boundaries can look like communication styles, workload, how to connect or disconnect in various situations, and most importantly how to form strong bonds with the people you respect and care about.
Be positive!
Positivity is contagious. Good energy is a multiplier. And good people attract good things. When your focus flows into positivity, connection, embracing others, and trust only good things can come through to you.
Samantha is a USC grad and soon to be double Trojan earning her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy this year! She loves a good vanilla latte and has a personal goal to hike in all 60+ national parks in the US! She thrives most when she is in collaboration and communication with women through her mental health organization You Are Enough. Occupational Therapy has changed the way Samantha views health and wellness in that people are all their experiences (past, present, and future). Therapy, in all forms; is the perfect way to create opportunities and space to live life to the fullest and thrive.