Building a strong professional network is an important element in career development, and could even be the key to your success. A good network opens you up to exciting new career opportunities, as well as helping you to strengthen your knowledge, develop your skills, and have meaningful discussions with others.
However, it’s not just about creating a large network; it is also important that you make close, long-lasting relationships with those you work with on a regular basis. Being close to those you work with has been proven to make you happier, more productive, and more engaged in your daily work life.
But how do you go about forging lasting relationships in your career?
Work on your people skills
Firstly, our interpersonal skills, sometimes understood as social skills, help us create meaningful relationships with others. So, if you know that some of your skills could do with a little work, it’s important to strengthen these wherever possible to help you forge better relationships.
This might mean improving your listening, empathy, or teamwork skills. It might also mean improving your body language, as our non-verbal cues and actions can be just as powerful as the things we say.
By developing your people skills, you’ll be able to listen to and understand the needs of your colleagues; you’ll also be better at negotiating, conflict resolution, and working with others. It is this emotional intelligence that will support and strengthen your relationships.
Be proactive and helpful
At times, we all need a little extra help or support at work, particularly during busier periods. Offering to help your co-workers or being proactive and picking up additional tasks can be greatly appreciated. By supporting someone when they are struggling, you can build stronger working relationships and become a well-liked and trusted presence within the office.
This also applies if you offer to teach others new skills or oversee their work if they’re feeling unsure about their capabilities. In this scenario, you take on more of a role as a mentor, which can be a great way to build relationships.
However, just be careful not to take over or become too intrusive in whatever you do. Instead, ask your colleagues questions and get to know what they want or need from you. And always make sure to deliver on your promises; otherwise, that trustworthy name you built up will quickly disappear and leave them feeling frustrated and disappointed.
Building a strong professional network could be the key to opening up exciting new career ... [+]
Ask for help
Remember, building relationships in your career is a two-way street, whether that’s with a colleague, mentor, or manager. Therefore, it is also important that you ask for help when you need it too.
As well as offering your own expertise and support, it’s also nice to take advantage of the skills and knowledge that your peers have. Whether this is asking them to teach you something new or just asking them for their opinion on a project you’re working on.
This gives you an opportunity to spend more time with people, which helps you to get to know them further. Just be sure that you always show gratitude to those who have supported you, no matter how big or small their efforts.
Make time for building relationships
Often, forming friendships and relationships happens naturally to us. However, if you want to create genuine bonds there are times when you need to put the work in, particularly in your career.
This might mean scheduling time to develop these relationships, for example, scheduling regular team meetings and asking for/giving each other regular feedback.
Alternatively, there are team-building activities you can do, such as after-work drinks, team lunches, training days, or any other creative way to socialize and spend time together. These activities can strengthen your bonds and can be a great way to help you build relationships across departments.
But remember to make time for everyone, from the newest and most junior members of staff to senior managers. Don’t just focus on those deemed to be leaders or on top of the ladder. After all, you never know which relationships are going to be the most beneficial in your career.
Be positive
Last but certainly not least, it’s important that you stay positive wherever possible. This can be seen through your actions and your attitude while at work, and a positive outlook can be infectious. Your colleagues are more likely to want to spend time with you if you’re positive, especially if they think you’ll lead them through tough times by keeping them upbeat.
And, of course, we understand that work can be challenging and stressful at times, but you must be able to navigate your way through these trickier times with a positive outlook.
If you are always the one that seems flustered, negative, or just generally unhappy being at work, others will naturally gravitate away from you and look for those who are more uplifting.
