Establish and Maintain Sound Relations

Surely the most important reason for the establishment of healthy working relations is that the manager is expected to achieve certain objectives with the aid of given means of production. The human (worker) is unique in comparison with the other means of production, as only he can and must be motivated to higher efficiency and productivity. Where there are poor human relations, a climate in which the motivation of lower-level employees (and colleagues) can be promoted, cannot exist.

Employers pay more and more attention to those aspects that promote labour peace. If human relations are poor, labour relations are also likely to be poor; the latter generally give rise to work stoppages, strikes and low productivity.

In the workplace one finds different levels of relations. As a supervisor you will find that you are in relations with your superior (manager), co-workers (peers), sub-ordinates and customers.

Click here to view a video on the 7 Habits of Effective Teams.

Relations with Your Seniors

The supervisor must always show the same loyalty to his seniors as he expects from his sub-ordinates.

Compare the following in this respect:

• Abide by and follow seniors’ instructions, although you might not always agree with them.
• Don’t place the responsibility for your actions and decisions on the senior(s), e.g. “Mr. Smith says we must from now on...”, or “Mr. James does not want us to...” Managers making excuses indicate a weakness and inability to take decisions and are such by lower-level employees.
• Never belittle seniors in the presence of lower-level employees. Criticism and/or problems must firstly be discussed with the senior involved to find possible solutions.
• Be prepared to work with seniors to achieve a communal objective.
• Keep senior(s) informed of progress in your section.
• Respect the position of your immediate senior in the line of authority, in other words, don’t sidestep him to higher authority.

The manager will find it difficult to exercise authority if he doesn’t himself show submission in terms of higher authority.

Relations with Your Colleagues

As all supervisors and colleagues strive to fulfil the objective of the local authority, it is essential to maintain good relations with fellow managers. Tasks must be completed regularly in conjunction with other managers as colleagues; it is therefore of the utmost importance that mutual co-operation exists.

Your colleague’s attitude towards you is to a large extent influenced by the way in which you treat them. A manager must therefore treat his colleagues as he would like them to treat him. Mutual respect and loyalty are prerequisites for co-operation.

Compare the following in this respect:

• Don’t speak badly or belittlingly of colleagues, especially not in the presence of lower-level employees; also, don’t listen to similar utterances by lower-level employees about other managers.
• Provide the necessary information and advice to fellow managers when they ask for it.
• Colleagues must firstly be defended when they are criticized by the public; the necessary facts are then gathered to solve the problem and, if necessary, the colleague is then reprimanded.
• Help other managers in all respects to make their management task easier.

Relations with Your Sub-Ordinates

They see the manager as an important person who is often their only link with higher authority. They see him as the interpreter if policy and instructions; their teacher in efficient procedures and methods of work; the person who solves their problems at work; their spokesman who conveys their point of view and requests to higher authority; a friend to whom they can go for advice and guidance regarding their problems.

Click here to learn more about qualities of supervisors that ensures good relationships with their teams.

Relations with Co-Workers

There are good and bad ways to relate to co-workers/your colleagues.

To make the best of your peer/co-worker relations you should always be:

Polite: Be considerate and respectful when dealing with others. Use polite language, such as excuse me, please and thank you. Be civil to others even when you are depressed or angry. Do not ignore co-workers, bud into their conversations or ask them personal questions.

Sensitive: Be sensitive to your co-workers. If a co-worker seems depressed, ask if there is any way to help. Always ask co-workers before borrowing things and promptly return what you borrowed. If you are about to do something which might disturb co-workers, inform them of your plans.

Helpful: Volunteer your help freely if you have the time and energy. If you are part of a production process, try to keep up with the required level of production. Be willing to work harder under deadlines.

Supportive: Sometime a co-worker may just need someone to talk to about problems. Be sympathetic and listen. Learn how to deal with the machines and equipment so you can help co-workers solve problems. If a co-worker is overwhelmed by the workload, offer tips you have learned for working more efficiently.

Loyal: Never encourage gossip or back-biting and remain neutral when workers are at odds. Try to say positive things about others.

Encouraging: Give positive criticism. Note good points before pointing out room for improvement. Congratulate workers who have done a good job or been promoted or awarded.

Relations with The Customer

The success of your company depends on the measure in which it succeeds in fulfilling the customer needs.

As the supervisor you must set the example. Lower-level employees note how you speak, how you start and finish a task and usually tend to follow this example.

Each supervisor must see to it that his lower-level employees always act in an exemplary, tactful, friendly and helpful fashion and show self-control. The behaviour and disposition of only one employee can, as far as the customer is concerned, improve or harm the reputation of a whole section/department or even the whole company.

Thoughts on Good Work Relations

Working together involves:

• Communication
• Cooperation
• Being considerate
• Being responsible

Working together means looking around to see the bigger picture.

Working together creates a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Working together can never be a policy; it can only be an idea.

Working together can never be a code of rules; it can only be a way of looking at the world.

We can say “this is mine” and be good, or we can say “this is ours” and become better.

We can think “I do my share” and be satisfied; or we can ask “can I do more?” and become prosperous.

We can work alongside each other and function or we can work with each other and grow.

Working together not only brings out the best in all of us, but it brings out the best in each of us.