How to build strong working relationships when starting a new job

When you start a new job or new role in the same company, the first months are critical. During this time, it’s normal to feel a certain amount of pressure to prove your worth – perhaps by impressing your new boss or delivering good results. But aside from these early wins, it’s equally crucial to build the foundations of strong working relationships you’re your colleagues.

Building professional relationships is essential to success. Good work relationships lead to better teamwork, a positive work environment and can help you get ahead in your career.

So how do you go about forging strong working relationships, especially when coming into an established team? Here are six key points to consider.

1. Offer help wherever you can

As the new person on the team, your colleagues will be eager to see what you can deliver, both to wider team goals and to projects they are working on individually. New employees are not typically bogged down with work right away, so use this time to lend a hand if you are able to.

Where possible, offer your knowledge and experience within group situations and find time to assist with work that your colleagues are responsible for. That said, make sure you aren’t spreading yourself too thin and never attempt to take on work that you’re not comfortable tackling since you are still green. But where there is opportunity to help, don’t hesitate to do so.

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2. Make time for everybody, not just your boss

As a new hire, there can be a tendency to focus all your efforts on impressing the business leaders and stakeholders – plus a temptation to ignore tasks you deem to be of low importance. But remember, reputation is built across all levels, not just among the management team.

By establishing yourself as a reliable, helpful and respectful member of the team among your junior colleagues as well as bosses and peers, you will quickly build long-lasting and mutually beneficial professional relationships.

3. Deliver on time

Nothing is worse than someone who fails to deliver on a promise or consistently misses deadlines. So make sure you do exactly the opposite. Strengthen your reputation by following through on work; and be responsive and timely to emails and requests.

If you do find that you are beyond capacity or short on time to follow up on everything, it’s important to be open and honest about it with your manager or colleagues. It’s always better to give someone fair warning and be honest, than to fail to deliver with no explanation.

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4. Get involved in meetings

There is no better way to earn the respect of your colleagues than by proving yourself to be an engaged and valuable member of the team. And where better to do that than in team meetings?

Come prepared, be proactive, actively partake in discussions and demonstrate you’ve been listening by offering your opinion or even asking a question during the right moments. Just be mindful to speak up only when it’s appropriate and relevant – don’t speak up for the sake of getting some airtime. Remember, quality is better than quantity.

5. Come to work with an open mind

A key part of building healthy work relationships is to maintain a positive attitude towards your new team. There is sure to be some level of office politics – this is a reality of most workplaces. However, as a new face in the team, it’s best to distance yourself from gossip.

Don’t risk disparaging someone or joining in a joke at someone else’s expense as it will likely hurt your reputation early on. Rise above this activity – you’ll earn more respect by being diplomatic and disassociating yourself from rumour and gossip.

6. Go above and beyond

Ultimately, hard work and a professional demeanour will take you a long way. By respecting your colleagues, proving your value, and offering your time, experience, and expertise where you can, you’ll quickly build meaningful professional relationships.

Going above and beyond for your manger, team and the wider business often has great payoffs across: career development, appraisals, promotions, opportunities (projects, leadership, management) and reputation. This approach will carry you through not only the first few months in your new job, but also your long-term future with the organisation.

Ready to impress in a new job? Explore our open roles or talk to our specialist recruitment consultants today.