We spend about one-third of our life working, and thus it is a very important part of our life. So it is natural to have personal relationships with people whom we work with daily. Thus managing your relationship with work buddies is important. Some of the colleagues even turn into friends. However, no matter how we are with our work buddies, it is important to maintain professionalism at the workplace. Keep reading this article to learn about tips on managing personal relationships at work.
Effective communication:
Communication is the key to managing relationships no matter personal or professional. Communication is not just about conveying what you want to say, but it also involves active listening. Active listening is when you listen to what the other person is saying to understand his point, not to give feedback or judge their opinion. Good listening and communication skill can help to solidify relationships at work. The best way to do that is to show genuine interest in the people you are communicating with, take time to learn about them, and try to build a positive connection.
Don’t forget the bottom line:
We come across people in our workplaces for whom we develop soft corners in our hearts. It is natural to get attracted by someone’s personality and way of communication. But you must ensure that you never cross the line, at least when you are at your workplace. However, you can have a personal relationship with that person outside the organization. But that should not impact your work in any case. Treat all your colleagues as equals, even if you are close to someone. You must know why is relationship management important so that you can take necessary action to maintain it.
Keep personal and professional separate:
You might be friends with some of your work colleagues, but that should not impact your professional ethics. Always ensure to keep the personal and professional domains separate. You both need to understand that work is work and friendship is friendship. Never mix the two. Moreover, even if you have a conflict with the person at a personal level, don’t let it creep in while you work together. Personal relationship management is a skill that only a few can master.
Maintain integrity:
When we get close to someone on a personal level, it is obvious that we share our secrets and personal details with them, and the same goes for the other side, also. But when there is a conflict, or some kind of disagreement happens, people tend to reveal that secret to other people. However, this should be strictly avoided. You should never share that secret with
other colleagues. In this way, you lose the trust and break the integrity, which is not appreciated at all. Maintaining integrity is important in nurturing relationships.
Practice mindfulness
No matter the type of relationship you are required to manage, you need to have a calm and sorted mind to keep it going. Thus it is recommended to practice mindfulness so that at the time of conflict, you handle the situation calmly without breaking your personal or professional bonds with your colleagues. It is important to learn relationship management skills, especially in the workplace.
Wrap up
Our work makes up an important part of our life, and so do our colleagues. We all know the importance of nurturing relationships with colleagues as they impact our life significantly. Thus it is important to maintain a harmonious relationship with them both at a personal and professional level.
