Human resource management plays an important role in managing and developing working relations within the company. Good working relations help to improve the efficiency of business operations, cooperation between staff, and staff motivation. They are an important part of the overall effectiveness of any company.

What are ‘Working Relations’?

Working relations refers to employee relationships with colleagues, line managers, suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders.

Why are good working relations important?

Human beings are naturally sociable. We enjoy positive interactions with others. When we have good working relationships, we are happier, more energetic, and more productive. This happy working environment will encourage new ideas, creativity, and better service for customers.

Advantages of having good working relations

• Work is more enjoyable
• Positive and friendly atmosphere
• A better understanding of others
• Willingness to help and support others
• Greater flexibility
• Increased innovation and creativity
• Greater productivity
• Can be good for career development.
  

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Requirements of good working relations

Good working relations require:

• Self-awareness (E.I.)
• Empathy
• Openness
• Trust
• Communication.
  

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How to improve your working relations

Self Awareness

You need to understand yourself before you can understand others.

Self-awareness is all about looking at yourself and identifying your:

• Needs
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Biases.

When you understand where your ideas and thoughts come from, you will be able to take responsibility for your own words and actions and prevent any of your negative emotions from affecting the people around you. This will help you to improve your working relations by being positive and proactive, reducing any negativity…nobody wants to be in a toxic relationship!

Empathy

Understanding your own emotional base and your interactions with people and situations will help you to understand the opinions and feelings of others. Being able to ‘put yourself in the shoes of others and understand their fears and motivations in different situations will enable you to help and support them when they may need it. By doing this you will be able to gain their trust and support which will lead to better working relations.

See: Clever Leaders Need E.I. 5 Clever Steps To Develop Yours.

Trust

Any relationship must have trust. If you do not trust the person you are working with then you will find it difficult to confide in them if you have a problem or you need so help or new ideas. If you do not trust them you may waste time and energy watching what they are doing or saying rather than getting on with your own tasks.

Steps to building trust at work:

• Tell the truth
• Admit when you don’t know something
• Admit when you’re wrong
• If you say you’ll do it, do it
• If you’re meant to do it, do it
• Explain your thought process
• Extend trust to others
• Include others.

See more about building trust at work in this Clever Article from jostl.me

Respect

Teams must value each other’s input into the project or task. Listening to others and taking in their point of view, however different it it may be from your own is important. It shows that you respect other people’s opinions and are prepared to listen. You may also be flexible enough to adjust your own views and ideas too.

Demonstrating your openness and flexibility to the ideas of others will help to show that you respect their opinions and will help everyone in the team work together based on collective insight, ideas, and creativity.

How to show respect in the workplace

All good relationships depend on good communication. Good communication is the basis for building respect and trust when it is both open and honest.

Open and honest communication leads to greater mutual understanding.

If you are communicating in meetings, face to face, via email, messaging or video calls, the more effectively you communicate with those around you, the better you’ll connect and the stronger your working relationship will be.

How to improve your communication skills

• Listen more than you speak – show empathy by listening to others
• Do not put off important conversations – – this may lead to people not trusting you
• Don’t start a conversation when you are angry or upset – do not pass your negativity on to others
• Be open and flexible – show understanding of different views and ideas
• Don’t just focus on the words – fully engage in the conversation, watch the body language, and ‘feel’ the energy so that you understand the important points
• Check your understanding – ask questions if you do not understand or want more information.
• Be open and honest – if you do not agree then say so. But, be constructive by giving possible positive points and explaining why you think certain aspects will not work – make sure you give a good reasoning for your thoughts and are open to discussing alternatives.
  

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  Main Image: pixabay.niekverlaan