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Life at Work

Dealing with Change

Stress in the Workplace

Improving Job Satisfaction

Work-Life Balance

Working Relationships

Assertiveness

Performance Appraisals

Remote Working

Salary Negotiations

Working Relationships

The effectiveness of relationships at all levels of a business can have a direct impact on the overall success of the organisation. Relationships do not just exist between a company and its customers or suppliers but also internally between managers and their teams and between colleagues. The general consensus is that if there are positive working relationships within a business the workforce tends to be happier and therefore more productive. A good team works together towards the achievement of both individual and shared objectives while a team built on poor relationships can have a serious impact on the overall performance of the business.

Establishing positive relationships

It is only possible to build up a good relationship with someone once you have fully understood and appreciated their individual needs and objectives. The best way to achieve this is to communicate effectively with them, listen to what they have to say and acknowledge their feelings and opinions, even if they differ from your own. By developing mutual respect with your colleagues, customers and suppliers, you can start to enjoy a productive relationship that is both open and honest. Some effective ways of improving communication are participating in regular meetings, encouraging discussions on core issues and giving everybody the opportunity to express their opinions. This helps to make people feel that they are valued and respected within the organisation.

The benefits of positive relationships

When you develop a good relationship with, for example, a colleague, you have probably secured yourself an ally should any problems arise. You should also be prepared to provide them with any support or assistance they may require in return. By acknowledging and, where appropriate, rewarding the success of a good relationship, you can help to boost confidence and morale and ensure continuing support from your colleague or employee. Positive relationships can also help to build trust within a team and can ensure that people feel comfortable with airing their concerns or issues without feeling the need to raise the matter with a more senior member of staff.

Relationships with customers are important not only for the reputation of a business but also for its profitability. It is essential to deliver on promises made to customers otherwise trust and respect will be lost and the relationship you have built will suffer as a result.

Developing relationships

It is important to work hard at a relationship in order to ensure that it continues to be productive and beneficial. Encouraging open discussions amongst customers and employees is useful when trying to gauge the effectiveness of a relationship and helps to ensure that any issues can be resolved before they become seriously detrimental. By organising and participating in team-building exercises, it is possible to further improve working relationships by ensuring that each member of the team is working together towards the same goals and objectives.