What is a healthy working relationship? By: Zhian Haji

Characteristics of a Healthy Working Relationship:

ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES A healthy working relationship begins with an understanding of the person as an individual and accepting them and their differences. Understanding an individual builds respect for the person and their background.

OPEN COMMUNICATION Creating open channels of communication allows people to express their ideas freely and also listen carefully to what others say. The key to communication is being able to express your thoughts without any difficulty. It is important for everyone to get a chance to say what they think and also for them to feel like what they have to say is important and will be taken into consideration. This type of communication builds respect and trust in a working relationship.

TRUST Trust plays a big role in any healthy working relationship. Completing all that is expected of you and being true to your word builds a trusting relationship. It is important to work as a team and have a honest relationship. A relationship full of trust ensures that both sides can depend on others.

RESPECT Respect is key to a healthy working relationship. If there is no respect then there is no “healthy” relationship. Respect is earned and by giving it, people will return it as well. If you show respect towards your fellow coworkers, they will respect you.

CONSIDERATION When you are considerate in what you do around your office environment, people will respect you and your time. Give a helping hand to your coworkers whenever they ask for your help with something. Being considerate includes giving your undivided attention to others when they are speaking. Listen to what others say and give constructive feedback.

OFFER A healthy working relationship includes both give and take. Offering your advice and/or help to others shows that you care about the other person and are considerate of them as well. There is however such a thing as offering too much. Only offer when you have the time and energy to complete a task. The key is finding a healthy balance to offering help.

PARTICIPATION Participation and teamwork are essential when working with others. Giving constructive feedback and listening to others is part of a healthy working relationship. Both sides need to give and take.

APPRECIATION Its nice to feel appreciated for the hard work you do at work. People should show that they appreciate the work done by others to help them or help the organization. Saying a simple “thank you” goes a long way.

ACCOUNTABILITY In a healthy working relationship its important to accept mistakes so that individuals can learn from their errors and correct, change, and improve. It is unhealthy to punish mistakes and to ignore it as well. It is important to remember that nobodies perfect and people make mistakes. Being accountable for your own actions shows responsibility.

APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES Appropriate boundaries must be kept in work relationships. It is important to draw a line between work and person life and to not cross the line. Boundaries keeps individuals focused on the organizations goals and also helps people work together more efficiently.

HONESTY Any relationship needs to contain honesty. By being truthful you show that you care about the person and the organization. Being honest also builds trust and respect.

All these characteristics play a big role in a healthy working relationship. To ensure a positive working environment these characteristics must be present.

REFERENCES Heerden, J. v. (2010, October 8). 3 Tips For Keeping Office Relationships Healthy. Retrieved May 15, 2011, from Creative Overflow: http://creativeoverflow.net/3- tips-for-keeping-office-relationships-healthy/ National Association of Church Personnel Administrators (NACPA). (2005, April). Characteristics of Healthy Working Relationships. HR Connect , p. 2. The CV Centre. (2011). Working Relationships - A CV Centre Guide. Retrieved May 15, 2011, from The CV Centre: http://www.cvcl.co.uk/working-relationships.htm