Hopefully, you are getting in the swing of things at your internship or summer job. Now is a great time to stop and reflect on what is going well and what might you like to work on before returning to campus. Understanding and completing tasks in your position is important but building interpersonal relationships with your supervisor and co-workers is important too.
Great interpersonal relationships at work can lead to higher satisfaction, performance, and future connections. Factors such as having a supervisor or co-worker who cares about you, receiving recognition, and a friend at work contribute to your opinion of the workplace. Here are tips to help you develop interpersonal relationships in the workplace:
Engage in conversation- It's okay to chat with your supervisor or co-workers about topics other than work. Initiate conversation by asking them about their weekend or vacation plans, hobbies, or for a recommendation of something fun to do in the area. This can also be a great opportunity to ask about their career path and what they’ve learned along the way. Be mindful of the length of your conversation. If you intend for the conversation to last longer than a few minutes, ask the other person if they have time to continue chatting, or can you schedule a time to continue the conversation. A great way to keep a conversation going is by asking open-ended questions (questions that can’t be answered with a single word), be curious, and authentic.
Offer praise and gratitude- People appreciate being recognized for their work and ideas. Acts such as writing someone a note or telling them how you appreciate their help, advice, or contribution can mean a lot. Saying thank you also goes a long way too.
Listen- Active listening is just as important as asking questions in a conversation. You should be speaking about half of the time during a conversation. Do not dominate every conversation or talk over people.
Keep gossip and complaints in check- Trust is a valued characteristic in the workplace. Spreading gossip or complaining about work and peers can negatively affect your reputation or ruin a relationship. If a conflict arises, try talking with the person face-to-face sooner rather than later in a non-blaming way and address your concerns.
Virtual? No worries- Schedule virtual lunch or coffee with your peers and utilize the time to get to know them. Joining a virtual meeting a couple of minutes early is also another way to get some time to quickly converse with others. If your employer has multiple locations, ask peers to electronically introduce you to others in the organization and follow up via email requesting a time to chat. Try setting a goal of having 3-5 meaningful conversations before your position ends.
Remember, these are the people you may choose to use as a reference in the future or leverage as a connection.
More details at: http://business.unl.edu/current-students/business-career-center/