Relationship
…Tips to building positive relationships in the workplace
INTERPERSONAL relationships are complex constructs that can make or break a work environment. It is essential to cultivate relationships that are more positive and productive in the workplace so that everyone feels comfortable, respected, and appreciated. By doing so, the workplace flourishes with people feeling supported, motivated, and inspired to do their best work.
For improved job satisfaction and happiness at work, take the time to strengthen your work relationships. Here are some tips for successful relationship-building at work:
1. Hone your communication skills
Effective communication is one of the most, if not the most, important skills you need to develop if you want to build stronger relationships at work.
Verbal communication
Verbal communication encompasses what you say and how you say it. It’s important to think before you speak and be conscious of how you phrase your words. Consider your tone of voice – how do you speak with others? Aim to speak with empathy, positivity, and understanding. When you speak in a considerate and respectful way, the people you are talking with will be more open to what you have to say.
Nonverbal communication
Your body language says a lot about you and your feelings. If you are relaxed, it implies that you are comfortable with the person and the situation. On the other hand, if you are tense or closed off, it sends the message that you are uninterested and disconnected. Try to stay open and aware of your body language. Make sure to maintain eye contact to show that you’re present and listening. Don’t let your body language contradict what you are saying. Ask follow-up questions and paraphrase what they said – this will demonstrate that you are engaged in the conversation and that you care about what they have to say.
Emotional intelligence
Be mindful of not only how you communicate but also how you’re making your colleagues feel. Make sure to use appropriate language and be respectful of their feelings, even in disagreements. Be empathetic and strive to see things from their perspective. This will allow you to connect with them deeper and help you better collaborate with them.
Active listening
When the other person is speaking, pay close attention to what they’re saying rather than thinking about what you are going to say next. Show that you are actively listening by nodding and making small comments to indicate that you understand.
The fight did not start in the bedroom. It started at the ATM.
He withdrew GH₵1,500 to send to his younger brother for school. She saw the debit alert. She had planned to use that same money to buy foodstuffs for the house. No one told the other. Both thought they had the right.
She said, “You don’t respect me.”
He said, “It’s my money, I worked for it.”
In that moment, their marriage stopped being a partnership and became a power struggle.
This is the question I am asked almost every day in counselling: “Counselor Prince, after we say I Do, is it MY money or OUR money?”
My answer always shocks couples.
After I Do, there is no “my money.” There is only “our money managed wisely.” But wise management means you need a system, not just sentiment.
Why the “my money” mentality is destroying marriages
Many Ghanaian men and women enter marriage with a dangerous mindset they learned from home. For some men, they watched their fathers control everything. “I am the man, I provide, so I decide.” So he gives his wife ‘chop money’ like a school child. That is not marriage. That is employment.
For some women, they watched their mothers suffer because they had no money of their own. So she swears, “I will never depend on a man. My salary is my salary.” So she builds wealth alone while her home is struggling. That is not security. That is emotional divorce.
Research from the American Psychological Association is clear: When couples feel financial inequality and financial secrecy, their satisfaction with the marriage drops by more than 70 per cent. It is not about who earns more. It is about who feels respected.
In Ghana today, with mobile money, two salaries, side hustles, and family pressures, if you don’t have a money system, you will have a money war. Love does not pay bills. Systems do.
The biggest mistake: The one-pot or the two-pot marriage
Most couples do one of two things, and both fail.
- Mistake 1: The one-pot – “Let’s put everything together.”
Everything goes into one joint account. Sounds romantic, but after three months, one person feels policed. “Why did you buy that dress? Why did you send that money?” You start asking for permission to use your own sweat. Resentment grows.
- Mistake 2: The two-pot – “Your money is yours, my money is mine.”
You split bills. He pays rent, she pays food. Sounds fair, but it is not a marriage. It is a hostel. You are roommates with a wedding ring. When one person loses a job or gets sick, the whole arrangement collapses because there was never “our” money.
Both systems create competitors, not partners.
After counselling countless couples, I have seen one system save more marriages than any sermon I have ever preached. I call it ‘The 3-Pot System’.
Source: Counselor Prince Offei, CPAC’s founder, is a leading Mental Health Professional, Marriage Counsellor, Author, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, and Spectator Newspaper Columnist. He writes on relationships, marriage, parenting, special needs support, and their connection to mental health. For therapy, counselling, or enquiries, contact Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) in Accra on 0559850604 / 0551428486.
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Parenting teens can be challenging. But it can also be a joy. The key is to know how to care for yourself, first and foremost. Before you have children, you might think that parenting will come naturally. And, to some degree, it does. But there are days (and sometimes months and years) when all parents could use some extra support.
Last week we looked at some four simple yet powerful approaches for parenting teens that build strong relationships for the long-run. Here are the remaining two:
4: Keep communication going
Because we are often busy and distracted, we do not always take the time to really focus on our kids when they’re trying to tell us something. Take advantage of the time you have together. Having dinner together as a family, using car time to talk, or chatting before bed are good ways to stay in daily touch with your teen. Prioritise quality time as well as quantity: Consider having breakfast out on the weekend as a special catch-up time to chat about the week. Or schedule monthly “family meetings” to discuss how things have been going and any conflicts that have arisen.
5. Be an empathetic listener
Listening with empathy and caring is one of the most important tips on parenting a teenager. Researchers have shown that people’s brain patterns synchronise when they listen closely to one another and watch each other’s expressions. As a result, the connection between them becomes stronger. Not feeling truly heard can lead to isolation and lack of self-esteem which are the root causes of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Therefore, take listening seriously. It’s not just a way of coping with teenagers; it has an enormous impact on their well-being.
