Building Relationships at Work: Virtually and In-person

At Talent Engines, we believe that life is relational and that relationships are the foundation on which any successful career is built. Unfortunately, many people struggle with workplace relationships and some even endure toxic ones. Here are 6 simple tips and tricks for building quality relationships at work and avoiding toxic ones: 

1. Offer to help – One of the most effective and simplest ways to make a friend at work is to ask how you can help them! While this may seem basic, it is very effective. The goal is that this act of kindness will spark a give-and-take relationship dynamic where you can rely on your coworker for support and vice versa.”
2. Be more intentional – As a remote worker, it can be difficult to make a presence so it’s important to show you are interested during video calls by doing things such as nodding along or contributing to the conversation. Sending follow-up emails or messages after meetings is another good way to show your intent. 
3. Connect over common interests – Engaging in small talk over common interests is an easy and casual way to connect with coworkers and begin forming positive relationships in the workplace. 
4. Set clear boundaries – It’s extremely important to communicate clearly and be upfront with colleagues about how much time you are able and willing to put into certain tasks to help them. Avoid overextending yourself, otherwise, you’ll end up feeling overwhelmed and likely negatively impact your relationships with coworkers.
5. Practice empathy – Empathy is crucial in building positive working relationships with difficult colleagues. It involves actively listening to others’ perspectives and attempting to understand them. 
6. Be aware of your biases! Being aware of your biases can make or break your relationships in any aspect of one’s life, particularly at work. It’s challenging enough to build healthy work relationships so try to steer clear of controversial topics when possible to avoid unintentionally offending others. 

Talent Engines’ Talent Advisors work to help lawyers find law firms based on relationships, personality traits, cultural preferences, and personal values. At Talent Engines, we “go slow to go fast” by getting to know each candidate on a deeper level first. Emphasizing the importance of relationships at the very start of the legal recruitment process allows our Talent Advisors to match lawyers with a firm where they feel heard and valued.

Visit Talent Engines to learn more!

Source(s): Roepe, 2024; Sillaman, 2024; Gallo, 2022