BizTips from SCORE – Relationships

Making Work Relationships Work

Good relationships at work are essential for a positive and productive work environment.  The key ingredients to building relationships are:

• Trust – the most important of all
• Respect
• Empathy
• Time
• Give & Take

One of the primary ways to create great relationships is to make a habit of giving more than you take.  You can show what you can offer and that you are willing to share by making introductions to others who can help achieve your work goals.  You can also learn when to back off and when to push for a solution that you are suggesting.

Some other ideas for generating quality relationships are:

• Never say “no” to a request without explaining why
• Don’t make conflicts personal. Focus on the issue, not the person
• Take a time out when a conflict arises to let things settle
• Be generous with praise for others – be authentic about it
• Friendly at work doesn’t always translate to friends outside of work
• Be humble and respectful
• Don’t be a know-it-all or show–off
• SMILE – shows openness and trust
• Avoid gossip
• Listen well, don’t interrupt and ask follow-up questions
• Say THANK YOU
• Share with co-workers books, travel, TV shows
• Help others and also ask for help

This yields Moral Support, A network of genuine connections, Be healthier and happier, and provides for personal growth since everyone with whom we engage has something to teach us.

Contributed by: Marc L. Goldberg, SCORE Cape Cod & the Islands, www.score.org/capecod, [email protected], 508/775-4884.  Free and Confidential mentoring and education.  Source: www.Unstuck,com/relationships