Learning Task 4: Maintain Relations
Describe How to Maintain Customer and Co-Worker Relations
Working with others is an essential skill and integral to almost every job. The individuals you work with may be your co-workers, customers, or a combination of the two. If you remember to always treat people with respect and in the manner that you wish to be treated, you should be able to deal effectively with customer and co-worker relations. If relationships are new, it is always important to take the time to slowly build that relationship, whether it is face to face or online.
It is much better to take a more conservative approach when establishing new relationships in the workplace than to be too familiar with a stranger. If you are working in a team environment, learning to understand the synergy of the group is important, as is ensuring that your group environment is welcoming to new staff members, visitors, and clients.
Workplaces benefit from cohesive working environments fostered by good employee relations. When employees treat each other with respect, communicate with each other effectively, work together as a team and appreciate the contributions of their colleagues, productivity and job satisfaction are increased as a result. Inclusion of others in the workplace helps to make everyone feel like part of the team. Sometimes we may not know how to include a new co-worker, especially if we perceive they are different than us, this is likely because of our unconscious biases. Recognizing these biases, our privilege and any power dynamics that may be present, along with practicing inclusive behaviours goes a long way in developing good working relationships. Some examples of inclusive behaviours are greeting others genuinely, employing good listening skills, speaking up if someone is being excluded, recognizing, and addressing misunderstandings, engaging positively with other people’s ideas and feelings and validating other’s concerns. Focusing on cultivating and maintaining a good workplace dynamic is important to everyone’s success.
Co-worker relationships
Effective co-worker relationships are built on respect and understanding. The following are just a few tips on how to develop and maintain healthy relationships in the workplace:
- Practice common courtesy and treat others as you like to be treated. Be honest, make eye contact with your co-workers, and exchange greetings.
- Use effective communications: verbal, written, aural, and physical (body language).
- Be observant. If you feel that something is wrong, follow up with the individual or group.
- Be respectful of other people’s time.
- Be proactive in asking for help from your colleagues when necessary.
- Use social media with caution. Don’t mention issues related to work, your employer, or co-workers on the Internet. These messages can go viral, be taken out of context, and have serious long-term repercussions.
- Remember to keep work and home life separate. Your relationship with co-worke