Having a good relationship with those that you report to and work with, is important.

Keeping your head down, not causing any conflict with others, and getting your responsibilities done is not a relationship.

To name a few, open communication, feedback, trust, mindfulness, and mutual respect are characteristics that define a healthy working relationship.

Healthy, working relationships can make your work life a lot easier and more enjoyable.

When you’re happy at work, you’ll be happy outside of work, therefore the benefits are endless.

According to a study done by Gallup, people who have a friend at work are seven times more likely to be engaged in their jobs.

Given the ample amount of time employees spend together, the development of good relationships can increase employee morale and productivity in the workplace.

Conversely, a firm and unfriendly environment will have the opposite effect.

Although we are social beings that crave friendship and positive interactions, there will always be those that we don’t necessarily get along with.

While there are many ways to improve relations with coworkers, it can all be avoided if we were more watchful over our words and actions.

This is not a menial task.

Our words and actions have the greatest potential to damage our careers and relationships.

Consider the workplace a box of chocolate; you don’t know what you’re going to get – values, expectations, cultures, age ranges, personalities, etc.

For the sake of work, it’s best to maintain a professional relationship with everyone you come in contact with.