Talking about building great relationships, we sometimes isolate our approach in dealing with personal relationships toward family members, friends, and special people from our professional relationships at work or career. We may think that since the people we bond with in the personal aspect are those we believe to stay with us in our lifetime, we offer a deeper kind of relationship bonding.
For the people we encounter in our career, we build a relationship good enough to keep us thriving at work. This is our common perception when it comes to building relationships with people. In actuality, regardless of the kind of relationship we establish, the grounds for making a connection are just about the same.
Long-lasting relationships are genuine and real and this does not, and should not, exclude work relationships. Even with work colleagues and business associates, we can build genuine relationships using the same elements and ingredients with that of our family and friends. The essence of a relationship is more than just getting along with people and attaining your goals, but realizing that you are not alone in this world because you know there are people who will be there for you whenever you need them. There are the three most important elements of a genuine relationship: trust, care, and rapport.
Trust
At work, it is critical that we trust the individuals we are working with whether they are fellow colleagues, our superiors, or the management. However, trust is like a rare possession; it is not easily given away to just about anyone. That is why companies trust employees who are honest and truthful in their dealings. Customers trust a business that is true to its word. Managers trust those members who they know can very well deal with hardships and challenges at work.
Trust starts by knowing the people you are associated with and understanding their values, beliefs, and experiences. In order to do this, the process of self-disclosure must be applied. This means you allow other people to get to know you and they will reveal themselves to you as well in your daily interaction at work. For example, if you are new on the job, you have to win the trust of your colleagues so you can build a good relationship with them. This can be done by creating a good first impression, start making friends at work, and putting on your best foot forward. But the most important of all is to keep the value of honesty and truthfulness in your work.
Care
The importance of caring in relationships does not only limit to the people whom we have a personal affiliation with such as our family, circle of friends, and those with whom we have a romantic interest. We also should care for our work relationships. An individual’s work productivity and loyalty, the profit and success of a business and the level of customer satisfaction are all attributed to the quality of relationships established. When managers and superiors care about their members and employees as real people, the employees are bound to be more productive and are expected to stay longer in the job. In turn, the business or the company generates more profit and customers are more likely to value business with the company as well.
Rapport
Success in business can be rooted from being able to get along well with people. Building rapport is customizing your relationship with another individual. It is the feeling of being on the same page or the same wavelength with another person and knowing how to recognize and acknowledge someone else’s feelings. The essence of rapport in a work relationship establishes a positive work environment and professional growth of individuals. Moreover, it makes the bond at work stronger and more solid.
In building rapport, we need to remember these four important aspects: commonalities, connectivity, communication, and collaboration. Understanding each other is searching for things that you have in common and mutually similar. Once you draw out commonalities, start creating the connection or bond by disclosing yourself especially when teamwork is needed to carry out a task. Of course, communication must be constant and open both verbal and nonverbal. If you are able to develop good rapport with your colleagues, you can work collaboratively and effectively.
