Friends at Work: The Missing Key to a Strong Organization Culture (Part Two)

In Chapter Three of my upcoming book, Influence: What’s the Missing Piece, we discuss the organizational culture and the landscape for high return on investment. One of these cultures is connectedness that results in friendships.

In Part One of our previous post on friendship and connection at work, we talked about the importance of having workplace friendships.

Today, we turn to how to actually build healthy friendships at work.

Friends at Work: The Missing Key to a Strong Organization Culture (Part One)

In Chapter Three of my upcoming book Influence: What’s the Missing Piece?, we discuss the organizational culture and the landscape for high return on investment. In today’s article, I want to dig deeper into one facet of something covered in that chapter.

One of the key aspects of a healthy organizational culture is that people need to foster strong relationships at work. Let’s call this the connection factor.

A Proper Apology: Four Essential Components

We are human. Thus, we are fallible. Sooner or later, we will make a mistake. Maybe that mistake will be an unintentional slight, stinging words, or an action more malevolently motivated.

When that happens, if we value relationships, we must apologize to bring reconciliation, to restore peace, and to continue to influence in a healthy manner. No one will be positively influenced by someone with whom they are in a damaged relationship.

But what does a proper apology look like? We’ve all received a half-hearted apology and as we are receiving it, we wonder, “Is this person truly sincere? Do they really realize the damage they have done?” Then we start to guess at the person’s motivation. “Are they simply trying to get me back in their corner?” “Do they really even care they offended me?”

Let’s look at how to offer a proper apology. This isn’t a simple formula that magically fixes damage. If used as such without genuine empathy for the hurt caused, it can actually do more damage than good. You have to get into the shoes of those you are giving the apology to before giving it.

The proper apology has four components.

Family + Body. Two Pictures for Organizational Success

In every successful organization, two structural pictures must be in the front of our minds to create a healthy and functional team. The two pictures are “family” and “body.” Sometimes an organization gets unhealthy and dysfunctional and needs an influencer to pull them back to center. Here are the family and body word pictures that will allow you to be such an influencer.

Create a Better Relationship to Your Work Environment

Many people spend more time at work than they do at home, with their family or with their friends. While it seems like an utter travesty, the facts remain unchanged, so it’s important that you have a good relationship with your work environment, whether that’s the people you work with or the space in which you work. Here are a few ideas that will help.

Building Trust in the Workplace

If you don’t have trust in any relationship, there’s nowhere you can go that won’t wind up being tainted by distrust and underhanded dealings. So what are my six tips for making sure you have trust in the workplace? Here you go! 

Practice SDR to Detox Damaging Co-Worker Relationships

At times co-worker relationships can be damaging. And, as much as I hate to say it, we’re the ones who let it happen. The good news is, however, that there is a way out!

Top Tips on Getting (& Keeping) People's Attention (Part II)

Trustworthiness is often overlooked because everyone assumes they are considered trustworthy. Unfortunately it's not that simple! Being trustworthy is the one trait that will keep people paying attention and give you the opportunity and time to move the conversation in your favor!

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