Today is my one year work anniversary with Ohio State University Extension! It has been a good and challenging year, from moving to a new town (and state for that matter), meeting new people, having new experiences, all while taking on my first professional job. It certainly has been an adventure. One of the biggest challenges has been being away from my family in the state of Washington approximately 2,240 miles away. This year I have realized that there are many different and important relationships that we may not be aware of that go beyond family. In my year of being in Ohio I have come to learn about creating and maintaining many types of relationships.
Often the most influential and overlooked relationships are those relationships from work. Work relationships or relationships with co-workers provide a large amount of support. People will often use the phrase my “work family” because when you are with people the majority of the day, they do become like your family. Comradery amongst co-workers creates an almost family like feel, especially in a small office. This relational support keeps people happy and more productive. Often having positive work relationships will also lead to becoming more engaged to your work. A Gallup poll found that when people had a positive relationship in the workplace they were more engaged and satisfied with work. Having a sense of comradery in being part of a team, working together, and having that emotional support creates a positive office culture. Personally my co-workers have been a huge support for me in many ways, from introducing me to people, telling me the best places to go in town, to helping me navigate issues that come up in everyday life. They have definitely contributed to my positive work experience.
Unlike work relationships, often tougher relationships to develop are those within the community, especially when new to the area. Adults with children may find it easier to develop these relationships with other parents due to kids being in school and other school related activities. However, for me as a single person, these connections within the community have been more difficult. When in a new town trying to establish relationships with others, a great place to start is to find people with similar interests. You can join a book club or running group, take a fitness class, become a member of a civic group, or join a religious institution. Getting out and meeting people with similar interests is the first start in making these connections.
Building any type of relationship can be tricky, but there are some easy and practical tips in building and maintaining relationships in and outside of the workplace.
- Schedule time to make relationships- People are busy, but try to make time to listen and engage with others.
- Identify your needs- Are you looking for emotional support? Someone to bounce ideas off of? A workout buddy?
- Be positive- No one wants to be with someone who is negative all the time; positivity is contagious!
- Have boundaries- Make sure you have boundaries in place that new work or personal relationships don’t negatively impact other areas of life.
- Use active listening- Focus on listening more than talking and give your full attention. People respond better when they feel they are actually being listened to.
So to EVERYONE-family, friends, co-workers, running buddies, members of the community-THANK YOU! You do not know how much your help and support no matter how large or small has helped me this past year.
