The Importance of Relationships in the Workplace

We all know that relationships are important in our personal lives, but what about our professional lives?

It may surprise you to learn just how important it is to invest your time in meaningful relationships at work. The people around you — whether it be coworkers, employers, employees, or clients — can make a huge impact on the success of your workday. That’s why it’s important to foster strong relationships in your workplace, whether in person or remote.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the importance of relationships in the workplace.

Healthy Relationships Improve Work Performance and Productivity

Our professional relationships can either help or hinder our performance and productivity.

When relationships are positive, we usually collaborate smoothly and get tasks done efficiently. However, when relationships are negative or strained, it can be hard to focus on work and be productive.

When we have healthy professional relationships, we feel more comfortable taking risks because we know that our colleagues have our backs. You’ll feel more comfortable and confident in your abilities, and be less likely to second-guess yourself (or worry about making mistakes).

This sense of safety allows for creativity and collaboration to blossom.

On the other hand, when relationships are bad, we may be less likely to take risks or step outside of our comfort zones.

So, if you want to be more successful at work, try building positive working relationships with others. It will make a world of difference!

Healthy Relationships Lead to Better Decision Making

When we have good relationships with our colleagues, we are more likely to trust them and value their opinions. This can lead to better decision-making in the workplace.

If we trust people in our workplace, we’ll listen to their suggestions and feedback. Even if you don’t always agree, you’ll be more open to new ideas that can lead to better decisions.

When an employee has a good relationship with their manager, for instance, they’re more likely to feel comfortable communicating with them. This can lead to a better exchange of ideas and information, resulting in better decision-making for the organization as a whole.

Healthy Relationships Make Work More Enjoyable

When we have strong relationships with our colleagues, we enjoy coming to work more. We feel supported. We feel like we belong. And we feel appreciated. This motivates us to do our best work.

Think about a time when you had a great relationship with a colleague. Chances are, you were excited to get to work and collaborate with them. And since healthy relationships involve handling conflict with others (or avoiding it altogether), you’ll experience a more enjoyable work environment. This is the power of a healthy workplace relationship.

On the other hand, think about a time when you had a difficult relationship with a colleague. Chances are, you dreaded going to work each day. You were anxious when interacting with this person and it felt like you had to walk on eggshells around them. This is just one consequence of an unhealthy workplace relationship.

It’s important to build strong relationships with our colleagues so that we can all enjoy coming to work and feel supported in our roles. After all, we spend a large portion of our lives at work, so it’s important to make the most of it!

Healthy Relationships Give You Peace of Mind and Purpose

Healthy professional relationships can give you more peace of mind and make work more meaningful.

Studies have shown that the quality of someone’s relationships impacts their well-being, life satisfaction, and mental health. So having positive connections with other professionals makes you feel more aligned with your company’s vision and, as a result, leads to experiencing a better quality of life.

Plus, it’s simply more fun to work where you feel supported by your colleagues.

In contrast, when we have bad relationships at work, it’s easy to become stressed and anxious. We might start questioning whether we’re in the right job, the right company, or if we made the wrong career choice.

If you want to feel more content with your work (and life), then focus on building positive working relationships with others.

Healthy Relationships Foster Mental and Physical Health Benefits

Studies have shown that people with strong social ties are healthier and live longer than their more isolated peers.

This is true for personal and professional relationships alike.

Some of the health benefits associated with positive workplace relationships include:

• Increased lifespan
• Lower blood pressure
• Improved immune system function
• Less stress-related illness and disease
• Provides purpose and meaning, enhancing mental health

So, if you’re looking to improve your health, developing positive professional relationships can help!

Healthy Relationships Create Opportunities

The professional connections you make at work can be beneficial for your career.

When you have strong relationships with others, they are more likely to think of you when opportunities arise.

For example:

• When you have a good relationship with your boss, you are more likely to be considered for promotions and raises.
• Networking in your field can help you to find new clients or career advancement opportunities.
• Strong connections with like-minded professionals can give you social proof, as people will speak more highly of you. This makes you a more favorable option for future opportunities.

The connections you make in the workplace can be invaluable for finding new opportunities.

Start building strong relationships with people at work, or in your field. You never know where they’ll lead!

Next Steps: Schedule Time to Build Meaningful Relationships

Relationships in the workplace are a great investment of your time. Healthy relationships lead to a number of benefits, including greater quality of life, improved mental and physical health, increased performance, better decision-making, and more opportunities for career advancement.

If you want to improve your relationships at work (and reap the benefits that come with it), start by scheduling time to connect with others. Undock makes this seamless and fun. Join today, it’s free!

Want to learn how to better invest your time? Check out our article: How to Invest Your Time Wisely for Greater Productivity in Work and Life

Originally published at https://phase.undock.com.