Do Relationships in the Workplace Really Matter?

We hear a lot about building relationships with students to ensure student success. But what does that mean for our colleagues? Should we, as leaders, build relationships with the people we lead? I think that relationships are meaningful and oftentimes critical to the success of the work. Building relationships help to build trust, form meaningful connections, boost staff morale, and may contribute to positive productivity results.

Have you ever heard the saying, "Relationships are built on trust"? I have come to find it, true. Building trust is important within the workplace because it allows people to work together effectively. I know, as a leader, I want people to feel as though they can trust me. I think that it helps people to perform better knowing that they have someone they can rely on and believe that they are sincere. Genuine relationships, typically form with people trusting in one another; whether it is their character, their knowledge, or their actions. Building trust helps to boost staff morale.

Forming meaningful connections with your colleagues allows for more collaboration. Forming connections with others can help to lift each other up. It creates a bond with someone who may share similarities and commonalities as you. The connections can be beneficial. I know that connecting with others is critical to building a network of like-minded individiuals. Expanding your network creates new opportunities that may be unexpected. However, if one does not have meaningful connections, the unexpected opportunities may not become present. Relationships cannot start without these meaningful connections.

Relationships help to boost staff morale. Creating working relationships provides colleagues a chance to truly get know someone and how one may mesh with the other. I have found in forming relationships, that my colleagues make me feel much better about the work and showing up. We can have fun and still complete our work, because we have created this workspace, in which we understand the roles we play in the success of the job. Depending on the type of relationship one has with another or a lack there of, can possibly make one feel as if they are working alone and on an island. This, in turn, does not boost staff morale because he or she may feel that the work environment is not positive. As a result, it may cause turnover.

Lastly, relationships can breed positive productivity results. As I stated previously, having high staff morale, forming meaningful connections, and building trust are critical to the success of the workplace. Creating relationships at work can lead to the positive effects and trends, any leader with a vision, wants to witness and be a part of. Oftentimes, no matter the job or work I did, my positive relationships allowed me to be more productive because I knew the goal and I was more motivated with the people that surrounded me.

Some may believe that relationships do not matter in the workplace because at the end of the day it is one's own job and experience and work ethic that matters. However, others do believe workplace relationships matter. They can help people to become more productive, yielding positive results. Do you have relationships in the workplace? How do those relationships impact your work performance?