Research shows that leaders who prioritize their employees and lead from a place of positivity and kindness simply perform better, and company culture has a greater impact on employee well-being than pay and benefits. Happiness at work can be achieved by building strong relationships with coworkers. The authors use research from the field of social psychology and lay out five main rules that apply to all relationships, whether they are personal or professional.
It’s not just our mental health that’s affected by our ability to connect with others. It has a direct impact on motivation in a much more concrete way. According to recent studies, our need to be seen, heard, and recognized is a universal human need. As a species, we’ve developed a strong sense of pride in our place in the group and our connections to the people around us. Feeling undervalued or unappreciated by others in your group triggers the stress response because it makes you feel threatened. In the wild, being ostracized was akin to death if you were rejected by your clan. Rejection likely activates the same areas of the brain as physical pain, which is why it feels so bad. It’s a pain in the neck.
The following are five principles drawn from leadership and social psychology research on interpersonal relationships that can help you improve your working relationships. No matter what kind of relationship you’re in, the following five fundamental principles will help you succeed:
Table of Contents
Transparency and authenticity
Clear, consistent, honest, and open communication are the building blocks of trust, and without trust, all relationships are doomed to failure. According to extensive research, effective leadership necessitates a high level of authenticity and openness. Employees who lack these qualities feel undervalued and dehumanized. As James Gross and Robert Levenson discovered, we perceive inauthenticity as a threat. As soon as we come across someone who isn’t who they claim to be, our blood pressure rises. People are more comfortable when you are being yourself, even if that means being open to criticism. As it turns out, being vulnerable has many advantages. Acquire the ability to express oneself openly and compassionately. Make a point of paying attention and responding to the needs of others so that they feel seen, heard, and appreciated.
Inspiration
When two people are in a committed relationship, they support and encourage one another to reach their full potential. Relationship satisfaction is strongly linked to the ability of people to maintain positive impressions of one another. Seeing the best in others spurs us on to strive for even greater heights. Workplace relationships between managers and their employees have been shown in studies to be positively influenced by their perception of themselves by others, who are able to see them as their best selves. When a coworker or a friend recognizes and celebrates our accomplishments, we feel appreciated. In addition to increasing productivity, this type of interaction is incredibly energizing. Everyone wants to be appreciated for their uniqueness and uniqueness. Reflected Best Self exercises, for example, may be of assistance to them (and you).
Intuitive awareness of emotions
Conflict resolution depends on your ability to deal with negative emotions (especially the big, bad, negative ones). Is your self-awareness strong? Is it possible for you to successfully manage your negative emotions? Our research shows that breathing exercises are one of the best ways to quickly and effectively deal with your feelings.
How good are you at reading nonverbal signals when you interact with others? Do you have the skills and compassion necessary to treat others well? Aside from these skills and abilities, self-control is another important attribute. Our relationships, both at home and in the workplace, are better when we don’t worry about the smallest details. According to recent research findings, our relationships also thrive when we are able to put the needs of a relationship ahead of our own.
Self-care
In order to maintain a healthy relationship with others, you must also maintain your own sanity and balance. Find out what mental states drain your energy the fastest, so you can avoid them in the future. Taking vacations and taking advantage of minibreaks is a great way to take care of yourself. Meditation and time in nature can help you cope with stress and build your stress-resilience. Be sure to incentivize your staff members to do the same (and not just give them platitudes). Allocate some of your waking hours to self-care. If you don’t take care of your own mental health, you can’t properly care for the mental health of others.
Values
It’s better to have humble leaders who are empathetic and forgiving, as well as compassionate and generous. Kindness and concern for the well-being of their employees are evident in their management style. Their positive workplaces yield superior financial performance, customer satisfaction, and productivity, as well as employee engagement. A positive workplace Teams that have the same mental models, i.e., approach projects with the same expectations and priorities, have been shown to perform better, according to extensive research. Employees need to know what the company’s goals are and how they can help achieve them. To form a strong bond with someone, you need to be on the same emotional and mental page.
Everyone benefits and enjoys genuine moments of joy and contentment in healthy working relationships. Under such management, businesses thrive. “No one brings out as much engagement and performance as leaders who are able to balance between the head and the heart,” says the author.
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