Good relationships between co-workers is of utmost importance in order to produce good-quality work. At most companies, teamwork is a requirement – not a lot of companies allow for independent work – therefore it is important that all colleagues get along, not only for the success of the projects but also for the success of the business/organisation. As a result, good work relationships can benefit not only the company but the also the employees because many of these work relationships eventually develop into personal relationships, which is ideal because of the fact that you spend most of your waking time together. Let’s look at some great ways to develop your work-relationships:

Honesty and communication is Key

It’s important to remember that all relationships are based on trust and communication, the same goes for work-relationships, so be open about establishing a Social Relationship. Bear in mind (and use to your advantage) that you spend the majority of your day at work, five days (sometimes six) days a week, therefore it would only make sense to have your colleagues as friends.

Make yourself likable

You might come across a case where being open about wanting a social relationship with a colleague won’t turn out as you expect. Don’t let this discourage you. Also, do not write them off or take it offensive. Instead, keep engaging and assisting them with work-related tasks and projects. Sometimes people prefer work relationships to be purely platonic. It’s the professional way to handle that situation and you’ll be maintaining a civil relationship with your colleague(s).

Common interests will light the spark

One way to establish a relationship with your colleagues is to find Common Interests. This requires you to get to know the person. Now, we all know getting to know strangers can be unnerving and make one feel quite uneasy but remember this: everyone we consider close to us right now were once strangers. Knowing that should relieve some of those weird feelings that come with getting to know a stranger. Once you find common interests, the rest with flow naturally.

Don’t be afraid to aim high

There is nothing wrong with establishing relationships with people in higher positions than you or even lower positions. Consider everyone everyone equal and it will make establishing a friendship so much easier. The benefits of befriending someone in a higher position is that they could end up being your mentor or provide a good recommendation for you if a promotion becomes available for you.

Be vigilant

It’s important to look at the dynamics and culture of your workplace. If you’re going to make friends, you would want to know what they normally do outside of the office. Once you know that, you can suggest things in-line with those activities that both you and your co-workers can enjoy. So keep your eyes and ears on the ground at all times.

It can be extremely easy to make friends at work if you really want to. Many lifelong friendships begin at the office. So put yourself out there and start building great social relationships today. Goodluck!