Developing and maintaining healthy relationships with your peers at work is essential to developing professionally. If you’re wondering why or how you can improve your relationship with your peers at work, this post has you covered. Continue reading to explore why successful individuals have started turning to ‘peer groups’ like Men & Meaning.
Research and surveys reveal that less than one-third of employees without work friends are highly engaged in their job responsibilities. Conversely, the percentage increases to 69% for employees with multiple work friends.
An employee engages with nearly all aspects of work differently when they start fostering healthier relationships with coworkers. This makes peer relationships all the more important for support and professional development.
Why Are Peer Relationships at Work Important?
According to Keith Ferrazzi, “Success in any field, but especially in business, is about working with people, not against them.”
Collaborations and teamwork have their challenges and setbacks. However, working with your team is more important for your personal growth and the growth of your company, business, or organization.
70% of employees in various surveys report that friends are an essential part of happy work life. They also claimed that they feel ‘ignored’ when excluded from team activities in the workplace.
Developing peer relationships at work has many advantages — for individuals and entire companies.
1. Increased Productivity and Performance
According to research by Gallup, 30% of employees have a work best friend. These workers are seven times more likely to engage with their work, perform better, and produce higher-quality work.
Furthermore, peer relationships also boost employee happiness. This type of job satisfaction inspires employees to get more work done without getting tired or bored. According to research by Oxford University, employees are 30% more productive when they’re in an upbeat mood.
2. Boost Retention
If you’re a business owner striving for professional development, you might want your best employees to stick around for a long time. After all, they contribute to the growing success of your company. A wide range of factors indeed influences employee retention.
But, work relationships among peers play a major role in employees’ tendency to stick around. Various survey-based studies reveal that over 60 percent of employees are willing to decline another job offer if they have even one close friend in their current workplace.
3. Improve Team Morale
Work relationships also improve team morale to a great extent. When peers find friends, you will experience high spirits among the team. As mentioned earlier, friendships at work are deeply linked with job contentment and satisfaction.
After all, people feel more supported when they get along with others well. You will also enjoy collaborating with peers when you feel connected to them.
How You Can Build Healthy Relationships with Peers
The perks of quality work relationships should be convincing enough for you to want to build healthy relationships with peers. But how can you form meaningful bonds with people at work? Here are some tips to help you get started.
Connect Beyond the Tasks
There is rarely ever a shortage of work-related discussions with your peers. From comparing schedules to chatting about the work status of a project, there is so much to talk about.
However, you may not be able to truly connect with your colleagues if work is all you discuss. Make sure to check on your colleges personally to develop deep, meaningful relationships. You can start by asking if they did anything interesting over the weekend.
Stay curious and utilize active listening.
Offer Recognition
Compliments hold a lot of power, especially when it comes to building new relationships. According to scientific studies, compliments, praise, and recognition activate the same part of the brain that would be activated on winning a cash prize.
And, doesn’t it naturally flatter you when you receive a compliment? However, 40% of employees report that they don’t feel recognized by their peers at work.
So if you want to connect with a peer, make sure to give them positive feedback when it is warranted. You can also display small gestures such as thanking them when they help you out.
Bottom Line
The kind of relationship you have with your peers affects your performance, productivity, and happiness at work. This means you are more likely to experience professional development when you feel supported by your colleagues.
Connect with your peers by talking about non-work-related stuff and offering praise and recognition.
p.s. – Not sure how to connect with peers at work in a genuine way? Book a free session to see if we’re a fit for working together.
Paul Strobl, MBA, CPC
Owner of Confide Coaching, LLC
Paul is a Master Life Coach for GenX and GenY executives and business owners. Originally from Houston, Texas, he has been location independent for most of his adult life. He currently resides in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria near the Greek border with his brilliant wife, 13-year-old stepson (officially adopted in 2021!) and a Posavac Hound rescue.
