Relationship
Tips for creating healthy working relationships
We spend around a third of our lives at work. Our jobs and careers make a real impact on our overall levels of happiness. Having good work relationships will always make our jobs more enjoyable
Also, when we have great workplace relationships we will demonstrate cooperation, trust and fairness, activating the reward centre of our brains which encourages even more positive interactions.
Here are some tips to create healthy relationships at the workplace.
1. Focus on self-awareness
This means taking full responsibility for your words and actions, not letting your own negative emotions impact the people around us.
If you feel frustration or resentment towards others this will manifest in what you observe and the way you engage.
By developing your own Emotional Intelligence, you will become more adept at identifying and handling your emotions be able to recognise the needs of others.
Again, if you view colleagues with compassion and respect, you will improve your interactions and build strong working relationships.
What would happen if you stopped making judgments and embraced a positive appraisal of your co-workers? If we saw difference as something valuable that could be harnessed and actually enhance your perception and understanding of those around you? Your vibe will always attract your tribe.
2. Be open and honest
A good relationships depend on open, honest communication. Whether you are sending emails or meeting face-to-face or on video calls, the more effectively you communicate with those around you, the better you will connect. It is important to identify the nature of your relationships with others.
What is it that we need and what do our colleagues need from us? Once you know the fundamentals of what you need you can be clear with communicating and better understanding each other’s requirements.
3. Practice active listening
Good people skills are essential. How good are you at collaborating, communicating and managing challenge? People respond better to those who truly listen to what they have to say. By practicing active listening, you will talk less and understand colleagues more and you will quickly become trustworthy and have more successful interactions.
One key skill you can forget when listening is the power of a good question. Active listening is engaging in what you hear, asking questions such as ‘What would you like to happen?’ How can I help you address that? Shows you listen and you care.
4. Avoid bad people skills
Good people skills mean avoiding the bad people skills. Gossip and negativity can ruin any workplace relationships. If you are experiencing challenge with someone in your group, talk to them directly and kindly about the problem, be prepared to listen attentively and objectively.
Gossiping or colluding with other colleagues will only aggravate the issues, accelerating mistrust and animosity.
5. Give praise and feedback
Everyone wants to feel that their work is appreciated and to feel truly valued. Genuinely complimenting the work and actions of those around you is a great way to build relationships.
Be honest, precise and authentic when delivering praise. Thank you or a gentle word of encouragement can make all the difference to someone’s day. These positive interactions can have a ripple effect and create a much happier and more successful workplace
Relationship
Tips for creating healthy working relationships
A healthy working relationship with employees creates a positive work environment and helps grow an organisation. Not much is talked about the boss-employee relationship. Like any other relationship, it also has many wavelengths and needs a proper flow to sustain and grow.
Good relationships are more about mutual admiration and understanding. However, it is a process that needs genuine effort, time, and empathy.
1. Bond of trust
The most important part of a boss-employee relationship is trust. Always be honest with your employees and never twist your words. Always tell the truth.
Be more transparent while you approach your employees. And never gossip about your employees or share any of their personal information with others. Trust is the building block and makes your relationship with employees sustainable. So trust-building will give you great results.
Bridge the relationship with trust to sustain it.
2. Merge the gap with communication
Communication is one of the most important key aspects of the boss-employee relationship.
Open and honest communication gives you an understanding of the employees’ sentiments, needs, and a good company culture.
A workplace should not only limit to email communication. Weekly meetings and hearing out the employees help you achieve more employee loyalty. Good communication fills the gap between awkwardness and other human complexities.
3. Appreciate your employees
A simple gesture or a “Thank you” note can lift your mood and keep you motivated.
Give your employees the appreciation they need. They work for you and dedicate a lot of time and effort to your company’s growth. Pat their backs, make them feel special, and let them know how much you value their work. Do it honestly and not just for the sake of it.
Though it would take very little time to appreciate their excellent work, for them, this can bring a whole new motivation and engagement in their work.
4. Respect your employees
Respect your employees and their opinions. Never make your employees feel neglected. Please don’t be harsh on their face when you disagree with them. Respect their inputs and try to explain your point of view with a little more empathy.
5. Implement autonomy
Give your employees freedom in your workplace. Nobody would appreciate you if you don’t give your employees enough room and space to complete their tasks. Autonomy in the workplace increases job satisfaction and your relationship with employees.
6. Show value, be empathetic
Value your employees. When you do it honestly, your relationship would automatically transcend to another level. If any of your employees face problems and have a hard time dealing with them, give them your helping hand. Supporting them in their crises could create wonders for your relationship.
7. One to one interactions
Go a little extra mile to talk to your employees and have a one-to-one interaction with them when needed. This would create a sense of support for your employees.
Ask your employees if they are happy with the work assigned to them. If they find enough support from their team members? Are they keen on learning other processes? Or any suggestions they have on the current way of work.
Questions like these would give your employees a sense of morale boost and help build positive relationships.
8. Have a learning attitude
Don’t take the proverb “The boss is always right” literally. Keep a learning attitude, which would help the employees feel more comfortable while giving their point of view to you. This also allows the employees to realise that they are the same and gives a sense of oneness.
At the end of the day, the Boss-employee relationship is all about trust and believing in their work. Hence, it is a collaboration where genuine involvement from both parties is compulsory.
Relationship
Spiritual implications of divorce
Divorce has significant spiritual ramifications, affecting not only the couple but also their children and extended family members. For individuals grounded in faith, marriage is often considered a covenant blessed by God. Thus, divorce can challenge personal beliefs, shake the spiritual foundations of those involved, and create a lasting impact on the religious aspects of their lives (Lambert, 2014).
a. Weakening of spiritual foundation
Termination of marriage can severely shake the spiritual foundation of both spouses and their children. For many Christians, marriage is a union ordained by God, making its dissolution deeply troubling. The emotional pain, confusion, and self-doubt that come with divorce can cause people to question their faith, creating a sense of spiritual disconnection. According to Thomas and Sawhill (2002), individuals who undergo divorce frequently report feeling spiritually uprooted and distant from their beliefs, which can make it difficult to find peace and solace in religious practices.
b. Struggle with forgiveness
One of the core tenets of Christianity and many other faiths is forgiveness. Divorce, especially if caused by betrayals or abuse, challenges this value, resulting in bitterness and resentment (Lambert, 2014). Both partners may struggle with forgiveness—whether it is forgiving each other, forgiving themselves, or even forgiving others involved in the process, such as family members or friends who took sides. This inability to forgive can create a lingering sense of guilt, further complicating the healing process and obstructing spiritual growth.
c. Conflict with biblical teachings
For many Christians, marriage is a lifelong commitment, underpinned by scriptures that discourage divorce. The Bible, for example, states in Matthew 19:6 (NIV): “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Divorce presents an internal conflict with these teachings on the sanctity of marriage and the permanence of vows, often leaving individuals feeling ashamed or guilty for “breaking” a sacred vow. This can trigger emotional turmoil as individuals try to reconcile their decision with their religious values (Lambert, 2014).
d. Impact on prayer and worship
The emotional toll of divorce affects the ability of the spouse and children to engage in prayer and worship. Feelings of unworthiness, guilt, or abandonment may hinder individuals from fully participating in communal worship or private devotion (Amato & Previti, 2003). Studies suggest that religiously active individuals going through divorce may feel distant from their spiritual community—leading to lower levels of participation in religious practices (Kreider, 2020). This alienation can exacerbate the emotional and spiritual pain, creating a barrier between the individual and their faith.
e. Sense of abandonment and spiritual isolation
The breakdown of a marriage can instill a sense of abandonment, not only from the former spouse but also from God. People may question why they had to endure the pain of separation and may feel that God has abandoned them. This spiritual isolation may contribute to a crisis of faith, as individuals may grapple with feelings of being forsaken. A study on faith and marital dissolution in the USA found that 29 per cent of divorces reported a temporary or permanent decline in their belief in divine support during and after the process (Lambert, 2014).
f. Difficulty in finding spiritual healing
Divorce complicates the process of spiritual healing. The deep wounds left by the end of a marriage can create an inner sense of failure—making it challenging for individuals to accept God’s forgiveness or feel worthy of divine love. This can obstruct efforts toward spiritual restoration and growth, making it difficult for those involved to achieve peace. Research shows that people who participate in regular faith-based support groups or counselling programmes tend to recover more effectively from the spiritual and emotional scars left by divorce (Kreider, 2020).
To be continued …
Source: Excerpts from ‘Preparing for a Happy and Fulfilling Marriage’ Book by REV. COUNSELOR PRINCE OFFEI (Psychotherapist, Lecturer, and Marriage Therapist). https://counselorprinceass.wixsite.com/edu-counseling-psych
https://princeoffei22.wixsite. com/website-psychologist
https://princeoffei22.wixsite. com/website
COUNSELOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE)
