Description

How to develop working relationships with colleagues

Working relationships are the connections you form with coworkers, colleagues and managers in the workplace. Although the relationships you build with colleagues and managers may not be as intimate as those you have with family and friends, they are nonetheless crucial.

All jobs require interaction with others at some point. Even if you are a freelance writer who works solely online, you still need to build relationships with them to have a fulfilling work environment and excel at your job.

It is important to realise that a working relationship is different from a personal relationship. A personal relationship involves sharing emotions and personal truths, while a working relationship is a formal association and serves the specific purpose of ensuring good teamwork and productivity.

When team members have good working relationships, it positively impacts their work. Good relationships involve respect, communication and honesty, which can all be beneficial when working as a team. In a work environment that promotes this kind of culture, employees typically are happier and more productive. This increased productivity, in turn, leads to increased job satisfaction and motivation. If you have good working relationships with your colleagues, you don't spend as much time handling interpersonal office challenges, so you can focus on professional development.

About this course

•  Training Provider: OHS.com.au
•  Location: Online
•  Course length: Varies average 20 minutes
•  Time: Self-paced
•  Certification / Accreditation: Certificate of Completion

Background – How to build a strong work relationship?
Building strong relationships at work can take time and patience, but it produces excellent results.  Here are some guidelines to follow when trying to improve your working relationships:

1 - Communication - One of the most important aspects of relationship building is effective communication, which involves just as much listening as it does talking. This means that you should actively listen when a coworker or manager approaches you and consider their point of view before responding.

Apart from carefully considering the opinions of coworkers, you should also strive to understand their personal circumstances. For instance, if a colleague is experiencing a challenge in their personal life, it can be helpful to listen to them and be careful in your interactions.

2 – Be consistent - It's importantt in any relationship to be consistent and trustworthy. If you make a promise to a team member, make sure you complete the task or duty in the given amount of time. You should also strive to demonstrate your trustworthiness by offering your support and help when team members need it.

3 – Avoid Gossip - Gossip can damage relationships, so it's best to avoid it. If you have an issue with a fellow worker, first try to have a polite and honest conversation with that person. If this does not yield positive results, you can call a meeting with a superior and the colleague in question, so you can address the issue in a transparent and professional manner.

4 – Maintaining positive attitude - Building positive relationships with your fellow coworkers is essential for a thriving working environment. One way to do this is by supporting them in their goals and achievements. Showing appreciation for their work and offering encouragement is a great way to boost morale and build mutual respect. Additionally, maintaining a positive attitude during challenging times can help set the tone for the team and keep everyone motivated to succeed.

5 – Knowing expectations - It is important to know the unofficial rules and expectations involving working relationships. These boundaries may vary depending on the culture of a company. Some companies, for instance, may encourage a more casual work environment, whereas others may expect employees to act more formally.

6 – Work deliverance - Delivering quality work on time is one of the best ways to build positive relationships with your coworkers. This demonstrates not only that you are professional and good at what you do but also that you respect your coworkers and consider them when you perform your daily duties.

Course Outline
OHS’s Developing Working Relationships with Colleagues training course is intended to showcase the abilities necessary for building relationships, utilising efficacious negotiation and influencing techniques and resolving conflicts.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate behaviours and actions that build trust across a team.
•  Prepare for negotiation, by setting out the objectives and the potential barriers   for the other party.
•  Influence a negotiation to achieve an outcome above the minimum acceptable.
•  Produce an agreement for course of action that is acceptable to both parties.
•  Review own performance in the negotiation process.
•  Plan how to resolve an identified workplace conflict.
•  Apply a conflict management model to resolve conflict.
•  Communicate the agreed resolution to relevant stakeholders.
•  Input effectively into cross team discussions to help the team achieve goals.
•  Provide constructive feedback within a cross team discussion.
•  Identify and share good practice across teams.
•  Build a positive working relationship with a customer.
•  Manage an existing customer relationship ensuring customer satisfaction.
•  Resolve issues to maintain a positive customer relationship.