The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

 

December 30, 2015 Strengthen Your Social Ties at Work Relationships at work matter both for making your workday more pleasant and for helping you do your job better. But many of us shy away from making friends with our coworkers, even if we’ve known them for years. If your social ties at the office aren’t as strong as you’d like, here’s how to improve them: Start small. Find one or two colleagues who have things in common with you, then ask them to lunch or coffee. Use the time before meetings. Even short interactions about TV shows, movies, or sports can build relationships over time. Ask questions. If you’re worried about running out of things to say, ask your colleague what she’s working on right now or what she’s interested in. Make the time. Busy schedules are an easy excuse. Block off 30 or 60 minutes to talk to colleagues or go for a walk together. Adapted from "How to Build the Social Ties You Need at Work," by Amy Gallo

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