Good working relationships can make work easier, more enjoyable and help you feel part of the team.
You’ll work with lots of different people throughout your career. Some may become friends, while others will simply be people you work well with, and that’s completely fine.
A good workplace relationship isn’t about getting along perfectly all the time. It’s about respect, communication, trust and being able to work together, even when you have different personalities, opinions or ways of doing things.
Building Good Relationships at Work
Be friendly, but professional: You can have a laugh and get to know your colleagues while still remembering that you’re at work. Think about what you share, how you speak to people and how your behaviour might come across to others.
Respect differences: People may have different backgrounds, personalities, beliefs, communication styles and ways of working. You don’t have to agree on everything to treat each other with respect.
Communicate clearly: Listen when others are speaking, ask if you don’t understand something and try not to assume you know what someone meant. A quick conversation can sometimes prevent a much bigger misunderstanding.
Be someone others can rely on: Doing what you say you’ll do, sharing information and helping when you can all help to build trust with colleagues.
Don't get pulled into workplace drama: You might hear gossip or disagreements between colleagues. Be careful about taking sides, repeating things you've heard or joining conversations that could damage someone else's reputation.
Deal with small problems early: Not every disagreement is a serious problem. If appropriate, a calm conversation can sometimes clear up a misunderstanding before it grows.
Know when to get support: You shouldn't be expected to deal with everything yourself. If you're experiencing bullying, harassment, discrimination, threatening behaviour or something that makes you feel unsafe, speak to an appropriate person at work and/or your Employment Adviser.
Top Tips for Workplace Relationships
Keep work disagreements about the issue, not the person:
“I wasn't sure what you needed from me” is much more constructive than “You're always unclear.”
Think before you send: If you're annoyed, give yourself a moment before replying to a Teams message, email or group chat.
Don't expect to click with everyone: You can have a perfectly good working relationship with someone without becoming friends.
Own your mistakes: A simple “Sorry, I misunderstood that. I'll sort it” can build more trust than becoming defensive.
Don't be afraid of boundaries: It's okay to keep parts of your personal life private and to say when something makes you uncomfortable.
Activity
What could you do? (suggested answers below)
Scenario 1: A colleague makes a joke about you in front of the team. Everyone else laughs, but you don't find it funny. What could you do?
A. Laugh along even though you're uncomfortable
B. Calmly tell them you didn't like the comment
C. Make a joke about them later to get your own back
D. Speak to someone you trust if it continues
Scenario 2: Two colleagues have fallen out. One of them starts telling you what the other person has supposedly said about you. What could you do?
A. Ask everyone else whether it's true
B. Send the other colleague an angry message
C. Avoid getting involved in the gossip
D. Tell other people what you've heard
Scenario 3: A colleague sends you a message that sounds rude. You're annoyed and want to reply immediately. What could you do?
A. Send an equally rude reply
B. Take a moment and consider whether you may have misunderstood their tone
C. Speak to them calmly if you need to clarify what they meant
D. Screenshot it and send it around the team
Scenario 4: You make a mistake that affects some work your colleague was doing. What could you do?
A. Hope they don't notice
B. Blame someone else
C. Tell them what happened, apologise and help put it right
D. Avoid them for the rest of the day
For Further Learning…
Answers to the Activity
Scenario 1: Best approach is B, and D if the behaviour continues or you need support.
Scenario 2: Best approach is C.
Scenario 3: Best approach is B or C.
Scenario 4: Best approach is C.