I started my career in supply chain management thirteen years ago and credit where I am to the relationships that I have formed along the way. Digging deeper, much of the relationship building habit formed from being a military child. Being in a navy family, we moved every three to five years, forcing me to create new relationships in new cities and schools. It was repetitive, familiar and never stressful for me…just a part of life.
Bridges Never Burned
As cliche as it sounds, you never know what relationship will create new opportunities. I can spend days telling you about how a relationship helped me learn what it took to get into UCF, allowed me to come back to my first job after living in various parts of the country for years and seated me in my first management position at 26. I am thankful for those relationships, which I still have today.
How to Form Better Working Relationshops
Remember, forming relationships should not be self-serving, it is just something we do. Here are some practical things you can do in the workplace to form better working relationships.
- Invite someone to lunch
- Create meaningful small talk
- Find out about personal interests and hobbies
- Ask about family
- Follow up on things people tell you (“How was the wedding last weekend?”)
Learning from Children
I noticed that as adults, it is not as easy to create conversation, cultivate relationships and generate long-lasting alliances. We can learn much from the children on the playground. Just get in there and get to know the people around you in the workplace. It is enriching both yourself, that person and to the work environment.
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