Working together is Success

Indore Management Association organized Staff Development Program, A WebEx Webinar Series Session 1 on the topic “Meaningful Workplace Relationships To Lead, Engage And Develop People – Changing Perspectives” on Friday.

Speaker for the session was Dr. Sonal Sisodia, Principal, Daly College of Business Management.

Dr. Sonal started the session by stating that; To maintain relationships at work! Who doesn’t know that? Answering to this, she said; One might assume it is natural that people understand the significance of workplace relationships and so everyone would put in great efforts to create and maintain meaningful workplace relationships. But that is not the case always.

She said; The most important thing in workplace communication is hearing what isn’t said.” By Peter Drucker

She further said that; A great relationship is about two things. First, appreciating the similarities & second, respecting the differences.

Further she explained about Small actions or behaviors that seem inconsequential in the moment but affect how we relate to one another. Micromoves are like the steps that characterize a dance. You take a step, and then your co-worker takes one.

Each step, or micromove, can change the direction of the relationship. A small act of gratitude or compassion — like saying “thank you” or being understanding — can bring people together and help build long-term trust, researchers suggest.

To manage workplace, following things can be helpful:

1. A culture of listening: Nancy Kline talks about creating a “Thinking Environment” in organizations, based on allowing people the space and time to think, and access their own ideas, before offering yours.
2. Learn to recognise emotion in others: Respectfully recognizing another’s emotional state will allow a leader to demonstrate empathy, and alter the way s/he communicates in order to be heard.
3. Use praise: Praise can be a great motivator when it is authentic, since it fosters positive emotions and can boost performance. This will increase the team’s visibility and reputation, and may well provide opportunities for individuals to become involved in projects across the wider organization.
4. Be a leader: Teams want leading, not another ‘buddy’ who indulges in office gossip. A leader’s role isn’t to be everyone’s best friend, but to behave in a fashion that inspires trust and confidence.
5. Set clear expectations: This is certainly important in terms of outcomes, but also in terms of behavior and culture. Don’t be afraid of articulating your expectations – and ensure you demonstrate these daily. Or better still, set the tone.
6. Ask questions: This way of communicating signals interest in your team, both personally and professionally and allow others to be more solutions-focused, which in turn empowers individuals. Questions can encourage a culture of exploration and innovation amongst team members rather than just accepting the status quo.
7. Recognize peers: Peer-to-peer recognition has been shown to increase engagement and productivity in the workplace, and build stronger relationships. Being aware of others’ triumphs in the office can strengthen relationships.
8. Maintain boundaries: Keep things light and focus on work, at first. Share stories about projects, weekend plans or after-work hobbies, but don’t get too deep or personal. Keep solid boundaries between work and personal sharing, until it’s obvious that the other person is comfortable becoming closer.
9. Be a visionary: A leader should offer a different perspective of what’s happening within the team. One needs to understand their own leadership style, appreciate the often intangible qualities inherent in the role, and master the complex demands of serving as well as leading others.
10. Develop Shared Values: Values are the often unspoken rules by which we act; they govern our behaviour. Richard Barrett argues that ‘When a group of people espouse a set of agreed values, and understand which behaviors support those values, then…all rules reduce to one – live the values.’

To re-imagine workplace relationships:

• It’s ok to smile warmly instead of shaking hands.
• Hierarchical barriers are getting blurred. No more 9-to-5 office,
• timelines, dress codes, etc.
• Your boss and teammates will be more empathetic about your work-life.
• New respect for life’s demands, and appreciation for all-things family.
• One’s colleagues are now perfectly comfortable in this less-protocol-driven scenario. In the months following the lift of mandatory work-from-home, this level of interpersonal connectivity and comfort could carry on.

What can you do to build better relationships at work?

• Develop Your People Skills (Social intelligence)
• Identify Your Relationship Needs: Recognition/
• Certainty/autonomy/ affiliation, love/ fairness
• Schedule Time to Build Relationships
• Focus on Your EI- self awareness to avoid cognitive dissonance
• Analyse Non-verbal behaviour
• Apologize, if needed

To Rebound, reimagine, rearchitect; Building the new normal:

• A remote work program can deliver fantastic organizational benefits, like happy&healthy employees who are more communicative than ever.
• Communicate openly and often.
• Share openly and often what the real impact of the crisis is on your business, and normalize what to expect.
• Businesses should enable their employees with the knowledge and training required so they can feel confident in their roles.
• Opt for a job rotation program to improve communication and collaboration.

Tips and tricks for enforced social distancing:

• Postures and set-ups
• Movement
• Have a morning routine
• Invest in a lot of new technology
• Change up location
• Connect! Miss the water cooler conversations …So plan a virtual coffee-and-cookie meeting, or a virtual Bring-your- own-dessert happy hour this week.

She concluded the session by stating the quote; Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is Progress. Working together is Success.