Having good professional relationships can make work more enjoyable because we look forward to interacting with the people around us. People are open to new ideas and more likely to accept changes inside the organization. In short, we naturally desire to work with people that we easily get along with.

Building rapport in the workplace is also essential if you want to grow your professional network. Key stakeholders, customers, partners, and suppliers contribute to our success, so it is crucial to build and maintain good relations with these individuals. 

There are several qualities that are vital to creating good and healthy work relationships:

Trust – trusting your coworkers can foster a dynamic connection necessary for effective communication and work camaraderie.

Respect – respecting people means valuing their opinions and ideas. In return, they value yours.  Working together, you can create solutions based on your collective wisdom, insights, and creativity.

Accountability – being responsible for words and actions. This also means being mindful of what to say, making sure you are free from biases or negative feelings that can affect the people around you.

Transparency – opening lines of communication, whether through face-to-face meetings or emails, helps to build richer relationships because it allows issues to be addressed quickly, thus avoiding conflict.

Below are additional tips to help you build rapport in the workplace:

1. Have Good People Skills

Your attitude, communication skills, work ethic, emotional intelligence, and other personal attributes are the soft skills that are important to your professional success. These soft skills can help you excel as a leader. Having a positive attitude and knowing how to get along with others can increase your chances of success.

2. Avoid Office Politics

Don’t participate in gossip. If you are experiencing conflict with someone from your team, talk to them directly about the issue. Gossiping only makes things worse, and causes mistrust and animosity between you and your colleagues.

3.  Develop Empathy

Identify what your colleagues need so you can properly acknowledge their concerns, which promotes good relationships.  Practice active listening so you can clearly understand what they are telling you and what they really feel.

4.  Spend Time with Them

Find time to hang out with your coworkers, like joining them for lunches or coffee breaks. These mini interactions help build the foundation of a good relationship.

5. Learn to Appreciate Others

Always remember to show your appreciation when someone helps you, regardless of rank or position in your company.  Give sincere compliments when they did something great. These actions warm peoples’ hearts, making them more open to you.

A coach can help you to create a positive work environment in your company.