By Narriah Copeland
As a student worker who is new to having a job, it has been wonderful to have such a positive and kind workplace environment. When I first started my job, it was a bit difficult to connect with my colleagues, especially since I was just learning the ropes and figuring out the environment of my workplace. Once I was able to take the time to reach out and get to know everyone, I was able to build some strong work relationships.
Coming to the end of the first year of starting my first job as a student worker, I have come to understand how important it is to build work relationships and how essential communication and community are in enhancing a positive work environment. In this article, I will discuss how to build work relationships as a student worker while also maintaining professionalism. I will cover prioritizing professionalism, having effective communication skills and connection strategies.
Maintaining professionalism:
As a student worker, one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in building work relationships is learning how to maintain professionalism, especially when I’m working alongside friends or colleagues. It can be challenging, but I have realized how important it is to tailor my communication to fit the professional environment.
An article that helped me understand the importance of tailoring my communication style is “Tailoring your communication style: How to form meaningful connections” by Valuable Business Conversations. It highlights the importance of tailoring your communication style to a more professional and connective manner. A piece of advice I took away from this article is that it is important to understand who you are connecting with before communicating. They suggest doing a small bit of research, such as learning their communication preferences and interests, to adapt your message to resonate more effectively.
Another big part of professionalism is distinguishing between professional and personal interactions. For example, asking a coworker to help me out with a project or a work-related task is a professional interaction. While having a casual conversation about weekend plans or just checking in on how someone’s day is going leans more towards a personal interaction. All of these factors of maintaining professionalism will help you build strong, balanced relationships that support work responsibilities and friendships.
Effective communication:
Maintaining professionalism goes hand in hand with the pivotal role of effective communication, laying the groundwork for effective and meaningful workplace interactions. Following this, I have learned that active listening and clear communication play a very crucial role in building work relationships.
Practicing active listening skills and clear communication makes sure that everyone in the workplace feels heard and understood, it can also help you learn your colleague’s interests or workplace preferences. Alongside this process, providing constructive criticism can support the development of a collaborative and growth-oriented work culture.
Giving constructive feedback can be challenging: I am constantly concerned about hurting someone’s feelings or misinterpreting my message. However, the key is to approach the person thoughtfully and provide feedback that is respectful and well considered. With this process, you can learn what areas of your job you need to improve on more efficiently or even how to improve the talents you currently have.
Equally important, it is critical to seek assistance or advice when you are struggling or just require positive feedback. You should never be scared to reach out to your colleagues. I understand that it might be difficult, but reaching out can help you not only embrace vulnerability but also enhance your connections with your coworkers.
Connecting strategies:
Finally, let us explore connecting strategies. As a student worker, I have found that one of the best ways to build relationships at work is through intentional connection strategies. Meaningful engagement is a great place to get started on this. You might begin by taking the time to get to know your coworkers, such as learning about their interests, whether they’re work-related or not. Engaging in conversations that extend beyond the workplace can significantly enhance your relationships with coworkers.
This approach helps build a sense of community and often can reveal shared interests. That being said, I have learned that it is important to maintain professionalism when engaging in these types of conversations. Achieving this balance promotes trust and connection. For example, casually chatting about weekend plans or after-work activities during a lunch break can help build connections while still keeping the focus appropriate for a work environment.
Additionally, volunteering for team projects or attending workplace events such as team meetings and discussions can help to deepen these connections. For example, volunteering to lead a team presentation or workplace activity not only demonstrates your ambition, but it also creates greater professional relationships through collaborative effort.
When applying these connection strategies, it is equally critical to foster trust and respect. This can be accomplished by acknowledging and appreciating the efforts of your colleagues. When disagreements arise, addressing them constructively and respectfully not only resolves the conflict but also strengthens these critical workplace connections, setting the path for a more collaborative and supportive environment.
In closing:
As a student worker, developing work relationships has been a multifaceted journey for me, requiring a balance of professionalism, effective communication, and active engagement. By focusing on maintaining professionalism, improving my communication skills, and making an effort to build connections with my colleagues, I have been able to contribute to a positive workspace environment where collaboration and mutual respect thrive. These key elements have not only strengthened my relationships at work but also played a major role in my personal and professional growth, making my experience as a student work rewarding and valuable as I continue to learn and contribute in the workplace.
