Virtual Relationships Matter

We recently celebrated Valentine’s day, which is widely regarded as the day of expressing love. Some might be landing from Cloud 9, while others still seek that Hollywood-type fairy tale. But you can also have relationships with your virtual co-workers. Contrary to what you may think, virtual relationships are just as strong and as important as in-person relationships. 

Let’s learn the importance of building virtual relationships and implementing strategies to turn those relationships into long-lasting bonds. Roses are red. Violets are blue. We are here to share new tips with you:

Why Virtual Relationships Matters

Having strong relationships with your co-workers will make work more enjoyable. Furthermore, close-knit teams are more productive as it promotes a high level of cooperation, innovation, and creativity in the workplace. 

What’s more, you might also gain life-long friends who will support you in issues unrelated to work. We strongly believe that virtual relationships matter, and therefore, we have five tips to help you grow closer to your online peers:

Develop Your People Skills

To develop this skill, you’ll need to be a good listener. People respond better to those who truly listen to what they say. Allow your colleagues to finish speaking, and while doing so, pay close attention to what they say. Furthermore, when it’s your turn to speak, elaborate on what was said and give some advice where needed.

Don’t be shy to compliment your colleagues by talking about their strengths or something they accomplished. You can also keep the conversation going by asking questions about their hobbies, etc., showing that you’re interested in getting to know them better, which we will explain in the next tip.

I Know Your “Favorite Color”

Once you have developed your people skills, you can begin building a relationship with your colleagues by talking about your dreams, favorite foods, and everyday life. Not only will this benefit your relationships through the online community, but it will make things easier and less socially awkward when it is time for work and meetings.

Being surrounded by co-workers in a healthy work environment not only reduces stress but it boosts productivity. When you relate to your colleagues’ hobbies, movie choices, or favorite food, you begin to see them as more than virtual co-workers. You can trust, walk a path with, and grow as co-workers and as friends, which can help you work better as a team.

Avoid Gossiping

Building a solid virtual relationship with co-workers includes avoiding gossip. If you experience conflict with a peer, schedule a meeting after work that suits you both, and try to communicate civilly to find solutions to the problem. In that way, your co-worker will respect you more for talking directly to them.

Gossiping about other co-workers not only makes the working environment toxic, but you will build an unpleasant reputation. Feeling unwelcome in your work environment due to your actions could lead to a lot of stress, and your productivity will fade as you will be left unmotivated. Avoid gossip at all costs and rather focus on positivity!

We Are Equal

Working in a virtual workplace might also mean that you’ll be working with many different cultures around the world. Respect everyone’s differences and do some research about their way of life. In that way, you’ll have tons of topics to talk about, and it will show that you genuinely care about your peers.

Who knows, you might build a solid relationship with a colleague by learning a new language and some mouthwatering recipes! Learn more about the importance of a multicultural working environment in one of our previous blogs by clicking HERE

Be Supportive

Build a trustworthy relationship with your colleagues by offering assistance with their tasks even if they don’t ask for it. Make sure not to overwhelm yourself and rather focus on tasks you’re comfortable with. In that way, your colleagues will quickly realize that you have their back, and the trust factor will develop naturally.

It’s essential to remember that your role in this specific tip is to be supportive. In other words, you should only help where you can and try not to be the center of attention. You might do more harm than good if it seems as if you want to be in control, even if it might not be your intention.

In the end, having relationships with your co-workers is crucial and beneficial for everybody involved. Did you enjoy this week’s blog? Tell us more about what you learned in the comment section below. Want to work with us? Click on the link HERE and apply today!

Stay safe and full of love,

The Job Duck Team