Maybe you’ve just never stopped to consider it, but building healthy relationships with your coworkers is an essential part of having a successful career. Even if you’re an introvert by nature, reaching out and getting to know your colleagues on a more personal can reap many benefits, including:
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It reduces your stress level.
You may fear judgment or even rejection if you were to reveal details of your personal life to your professional colleagues. But in reality, the opposite is often true. As you get to know one another better as individual persons versus cogs in the company wheel, stress and anxiety levels often are lowered, and everyone can relax and be happier and more productive as a result.
- Don’t overthink it. While you don’t have to unveil every aspect of your life outside work, don’t hesitate to share whatever you’re comfortable with. Chances are, you’ll feel a lot better – and it will help you maintain that critical sense of work/life balance.
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It builds teamwork and camaraderie.
When you can relate to your coworkers beyond the details of your job, you learn more about them and begin to see them as multi-dimensional. This helps you to collaborate better and work as a stronger team.
- Our hobbies and interests tell others a lot about us. Whatever you do when you’re not working is a big part of your character.
- Skills you use in your personal life may also be beneficial at work. For instance, if you’re a photography buff, maybe you can get involved in working on your company’s social media platforms, website, or promotional brochures. The more people know about you, the more likely it is that you can segue your passions into your professional career.
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It can help with your next career transition.
If you make a job change – whether it’s by choice or not – by having built coworker relationships, you’ll have a strong professional network in place.
- By keeping others up to date on what’s going on in your life, they may be able to help you when the time comes to leave your job. People with whom you connect on a closer level are more likely to serve as good references, write favorable LinkedIn recommendations, and readily introduce you to their contacts.
Could you use a professional career coach as you grow in your job or advance your career? If you work in administration, customer service, IT, finance, legal support, healthcare, or production and distribution, you can find those resources at PrideStaff Fresno. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.