Most employees spend a vast amount of time at work. This means spending numerous hours with employers and fellow workmates. And because of this, it’s only important that the quality of relationships one maintains at work is healthy. Effective working relationships come with vast benefits that range from encouraging a conducive working environment, quality performance among others. Francis Mwangi, a lecturer at Mount Kenya University says when an organisation creates a positive environment; it automatically increases morale and improves work satisfaction. A lack of such healthy relationships creates high possibilities of an unhealthy working environment which may adversely affect work efficiency and company productivity in general. He further notes that it is ideal for managers and those in higher positions to help everyone in the organisation develop the skills for positive interactions, whenever possible. Benefits Mwangi says in any working environment, when employees are happy, they tend to do a better job thus productivity increases and customer service improves at the same time. He also believes that having great office interaction also improves teamwork, which makes employees more efficient during times of high stress and uncertainty. “Irrespective of what an organisation offers, good interaction means that people are having positive experiences and this will always make them put in more effort in what they do because the environment already fosters that spirit of working hard,” he says. Still on this, he says also points out how positive interactions can lead to developing company morale. The morale of employees is directly related to the types of interactions they get on a regular basis. For instance, he mentions that working with people who consistently create negative interactions leads to long-term morale issues, which leaves employees feeling that no one cares whether or not anyone does their job. Pax Elisee Mfura, an entrepreneur believes that there is need to put more effort in communication and interaction skills. Mfura says effective working relations also help facilitate positive interactions, adding that when employees are enjoying working together, it is highly likely that friendships develop. Mwangi adds that good working relations build mutual respect among co-workers thus leading to better solutions in the workplace as each member of a team values the input and ideas of the others. He further notes that where there is mutual respect, it also creates trust among colleagues, and this forms a powerful bond that facilitates communication and working together. According to him, one has also the ability to focus on opportunities rather than spending energy trying to overcome the problems associated with poor work relationships. “Good work relationships promote a high level of cooperation, and they make it more likely that others will agree on changes you want to implement or projects you want to work on,” he adds.
