Many people spend more time with their coworkers than with anybody else in their lives.
When you have a good working relationship with your colleagues, you’ll be more satisfied at work and more productive. You can implement some strategies immediately if you’re wondering how to foster good working connections with your coworkers.
Work is hard. But it’s a lot harder when you don’t have anyone to lean on. So whether you’re looking to bond with your colleagues over a shared activity or just want to get to know them better, there are plenty of ways to get closer to them. From grabbing lunch together to attending after-work events, here are some tips for strengthening those office relationships.
Why Having A Good Relationship With A Colleague Is Essential
Becoming friends with your coworkers can offer several advantages both within and beyond the office. There are several advantages to having a strong working connection with your coworkers. When you look forward to seeing your coworkers each day, you’ll be happier and more energized for the day ahead.
• Stress at work is lessened.
• Enhanced well-being and health
• Increased well-being on a psychological level
• Possibilities for social interaction and rest
• In the workplace, a sense of belonging and camaraderie
• Increasing your chances of professional success
Getting Along With Colleagues
As long as there are other people in your workplace, you may reap the benefits of having a good relationship with your coworkers.
1. Start Establishing Friendship
When you start a new job, getting to know your coworkers as soon as possible is important. When you start a new job, make sure to spend time getting to know your coworkers and establishing a good rapport with them. For example, you may want to give them simple gifts for a special occasion. Also, you can ask to join in on Wednesday lunches, for example, if your colleagues all do so on the same day. As a result, you’ll have more time to network with your coworkers and learn about their interests.
2. Show Respect
One of the best ways to show respect to your colleagues is to simply be yourself. Be respectful, professional, and considerate of others, and you will find that your colleagues will return the favor. Of course, there will always be exceptions to this rule, but generally, if you respect your colleagues they will respect you.
Another great way to show respect to your colleagues is by openly listening to what they have to say. This includes listening attentively during meetings or pitch sessions, not interrupting when others are speaking, and really digesting what others are saying before responding. Listening respectfully shows that you value what your colleagues say and are interested in hearing their perspectives.
3. Attend Team Building Activities
Team building activities can help coworkers get to know each other better, learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and develop trust. Activities can be fun or serious, active or passive. Still, they should all aim to create a sense of team unity and cohesion.
For example, if someone enjoys playing basketball, they could play a game of basketball with their colleagues. Or, if someone loves to cook, they could have a cooking competition with their colleagues. Colleagues can do many different team-building activities together that will be fun and enjoyable for everyone involved.
4. Prioritize Work
Focusing on getting your given job done each day may also be a vital part of getting along with your coworkers, even if it may seem paradoxical. A lot of socializing might make it challenging to get things done on a regular basis. To make up for your missing, your colleagues may be forced to take on more responsibilities. When you prioritize your own job, you reduce the burden on your coworkers and foster a more productive and friendlier work atmosphere.
5. Always Be Nice and Approachable
Improve your working connections with your coworkers by being friendly. If you work in a closed office, keep your door open whenever feasible to signal to your coworkers that you are available. In an open-plan office, avoid wearing headphones all day so that others may talk to you if necessary. Managers and employers should take note of this advice since it shows your workers that you care about their problems and difficulties at work.
6. Exchange Office Pranks With Them
Well, office pranks can be a lot of fun – as long as everyone involved is in on the joke. But if you’re playing a prank on someone without their knowledge, it can make for an awkward, uncomfortable situation. There are a lot of fun pranks you can do without causing harm, like doing a classic prank call. You know, prank calls never get outdated! If you feel scared but still want to try the stunt, just Google “how to prank call without getting caught” because it’s always better safe than sorry!
Here are more few tips for pulling off some harmless pranks that will have your colleagues laughing and enjoying themselves:
• Put Vaseline on the doorknob of the office toilet so that it’s really slippery when someone tries to open it.
• Fill up a coworker’s desk drawer with packing peanuts or popcorn.
• Turn all the office chairs around so that everyone is facing the wrong way when they come into work.
• Switch the labels on all the cups in the kitchen so that hot drinks become cold and vice versa.
7. Be Social Media Friends
Making friends with your employees on social media is great for starting a conversation.
The next time you talk, you can see what they like and post, which might be a terrific way to get to know each other better. According to Entrepreneur, retweets, shares, and comments on other people’s postings should not be avoided. It’s a painless method to establish a friendly rapport.
8. Collaborate With Other Teams
When you’re part of a team that never changes, it’s easy to become used to seeing the same folks every day. So, to the extent possible, strive to collaborate with other teams in your company. This will allow you to meet new individuals and, perhaps, develop new coworker acquaintances.
There are a lot of reasons to get closer with your colleagues – the most important of which is probably that it makes the workplace more enjoyable. When you have friends at work, it makes the day go by faster, and it’s less stressful. It’s also good for your career because you’ll be more likely to get promoted if you’re seen as someone who’s friendly and easy to work with.
So don’t be afraid to get close to your coworkers! It’ll make everyone’s lives a little bit easier.
