Working on Monday- Creating Positive Work Relationships

Working in a stressful work environment is a source of workplace burn-out.  Going to work can become a task of emotional strength and a test of your mental endurance when you are feeling overwhelmed.  The cause of much stress at work is relationships.  Strained relationships can create worry, fear and insecurity.

Looking back on my work history many of my difficult times were caused by poor relationships.  These connections stirred anxiety within me and made being at work unpleasant.  From poor managers to over competitive co-workers being in conflict with another person causes confusion.

Bad relationships sabotage workplace success.  They prevent your ideas from being considered, it ruins support and it makes people suspicious of your intentions.  They are a handicap to securing workplace success and must be worked out. 

A bad working relationship is something that should not be ignored.  The negative consequences can snowball and contaminate other areas of your work life.  Here are some ways to improve and/or avoid troubled work relationships.

1. Ask questions at the interview.  It is important to know your needs in a workplace setting.  Knowing your needs will allow you to evaluate a company's ability to match your work style.  You will also be able to determine if you can accept certain differences and still be effective in the environment.  
2. Address tension in your relationships.  If you see a co-worker is upset try to find out why and rectify the issue.  Avoiding a misunderstanding can lead too more hurt feelings and a more difficult solution.  
3. Always talk to all parties concerned.  Many times people blame others for their misfortunes.  It is unethical to hold another person guilty of an accusation without speaking to the person.  They may have a perfectly good excuse or you may find the person making the accusations is really the guilty party.  If a person shares unfavorable information about another co-worker with you and swears you too secrecy, beware.  Without a way to verify the story suspend judgment of the accused.  How would you feel if you were not able to defend yourself?
4. Avoid workplace gossips.  Have you ever met a person that seems to know everything about everybody?  Avoid them like the plague.  How do they know intimate details about people who do not even speak to them?  The information they are spreading is either false or obtained using questionable means.  A person's privacy should not be violated, especially in the workplace.  Leaking embarrassing and/or false information about people is a sure way to destroy relationships.  Make sure you form your opinion about another person based on your relationship with them, not another person's opinion.  
5. Set clear boundaries and respect the boundaries of other co-workers.  Nothing makes people angrier than stepping on their toes.  Make sure you are within your territory with projects and decisions.  If you are unsure rally support and make a group decision.  If others are interfering with your work speak up!  It is important to have respect at work.

Relationships can be complicated and sometimes take a lot of work.  The efforts you put into creating solid connections can only pay off in the end.  Learn about yourself and how to relate to others.  People make institutions work and people help others succeed.

If you are aware of someone spreading rumors about a co-worker report them.  Social sabotage is a crime that destroys relationships.  Please help stop social undermining.

photos via: ere.net, realbollywood.com via google images