A colleague is known as the go-to person at her job, and someone else expressed envy at how she knew people from so many different departments. My colleague explained that this just didn’t happen; she intentionally worked to build relationships.
It’s a valuable skill for both your professional and personal lives.
Get up from that desk. Have lunch with other people. Talk in person when possible. Take that extra few minutes to learn about others’ lives, whether you are in person or virtual. Interact outside your narrow department or bubble. Remember details about those you meet. Offer help.
There are many ways to cultivate relationships, but all take intentional effort. We often gloss over the connection in favor of efficiency, but those relationships can become invaluable when you need something above and beyond. They also make the workplace much more pleasant!
Relationships take intentionality to create, but the personal and professional rewards far outweigh the effort. Start today to weave your web of connections.
