Making new social connections at work can help you in your personal life and your career. If you start working while you’re still a student, you may be a little intimidated about how to do this. You will have to step outside of your comfort zones and take some initiative if you want to make the right social connections. They aren’t going to just happen automatically. Here are some tips to help you take those steps and expand your world.
9 Tips for Making New Social Connections at Work
Introduce yourself and learn names
Don’t wait for others to approach you. Take the initiative to introduce yourself to your coworkers. Learn their names and start greeting them by name when you arrive in the morning and when you leave. The more you use their names, the easier you will remember them and start associating them with faces.
Ask questions but don’t be too personal
When you ask colleagues questions about their weekend or their families and pay attention to their answers, you can start getting to know more about them. You have the fuel for a future conversation if you learn that they have three children or went on a camping weekend. As you start to interact with them, natural conversations will develop.
Watch your body language
Your body language can show your level of interest and comfort in a situation. If you fold your arms and listen with a frown on your face, colleagues may think you are not that open to listening. If you smile and nod when they speak, they will feel you are more receptive. Colleagues are more likely to want to be around you if you have a positive, open attitude and show it in your body language.
Decorate your workspace
Decorate your workspace in a way that shows your interests and hobbies. A family photo, for example, could provide a great way for a colleague to start up a conversation with you. A photo of a skiing vacation could lead to a discovery that a colleague also loves skiing.
Form social connections at work as a student
When you’re a student, it’s good to start working and forming social connections. The problem is that a heavy workload can lead to plagiarism problems in your written work. Using a plagiarism checker is the best solution as it quickly analyzes the uniqueness of the text. While you’re networking and building connections at work, you can use the plagiarism checker by EduBirdie. The platform can help with all your writing needs, and you can find out how to avoid grammar mistakes.
Eat lunch or drink coffee with coworkers
Rather than sitting and eating at your desk, use the opportunity to eat or drink with coworkers in the workplace break room or at a cafeteria. It’s always good to talk to people away from your desk and even outside of your department. When you start having casual conversations, you get to know people much better.
Offer your help
When you show a willingness to help coworkers, they will be more open to offering you help and advice in return. Even if they don’t ask for help, volunteering to do some of the work to finish a project and doing it well could make an impression. In a supportive environment, it is easier to build friendships.
Attend social events
Find out about any events you could attend, such as an after-work social hour. This will help you to get to know coworkers in a social setting where everyone is more relaxed. Take any opportunities you have to get to know coworkers socially, as this will help to improve your workplace relationships. You could even plan a social event yourself if there aren’t any, such as a dinner at a local restaurant.
Join a chat program
Companies often have a chat program where coworkers can ask questions, share files and discuss projects. Some of them even have channels where coworkers can share common interests, such as recipes, books, TV series or sports. Don’t ever let this distract from your productivity, but it can be a great way to engage with coworkers.
Conclusion
The above actionable steps will help you to develop social connections with coworkers that can boost your morale, increase your productivity and contribute to a better work-life balance. When you feel supported by coworkers, you will feel more committed to your team and want to work harder and be more productive. You will feel comfortable asking for help and advice, which can help you to grow in your role and your career.
