Interpersonal Relationships In The Workplace

Colbert, Bono, and Purvanova (2016) demonstrated that positive work relationships serve a more complex set of functions than previously recognized. In addition to the traditional functions of task assistance, work relationships promote personal growth, career advancement, emotional support, a source of friendship, and an opportunity to give to others. Relationships promote perceptions of meaningful work, has potential to increase job satisfaction, create positive emotions at work, and support life satisfaction: they support employees flourishing in ways that benefit both organizations and individuals.

According Reich and Hershcovis (2014) interpersonal relationships in the workplace are an inescapable reality for all those working in an organization.

Moreover, high quality relationships are major channels through which members engage in learning behaviors that help the organization achieve its goals. Good interpersonal relationship enable members to exchange valuable ideas and information important in creating and sharing solutions to problems and new ways to improve work processes and outcomes (Carmeli et al., 2009). Members who are involved in high quality relationship feel connected and valued, they connect in ways that allow them to overcome uncertainty associated with working through problems and experimenting with solutions (Carmeli et al., 2009). In higher quality relationships, members have the capacity to express negative emotions, more likely to feel that it is safe to speak up without fear or harmful reactions. Therefore, it is argued that a greater emotional carrying capacity in a relationship between people be associated with a higher degree of psychological wellness in the workplace (Carmeli et al., 2009). Connectivity found in a relationship enables non-defensive reaction, encourage members to be open to and converse about new challenges. Lack of openness in a relationship creates a situation where members are more afraid to speak out, which demonstrates an absence of psychological safety. Therefore, connectivity in

In addition to traditional functions of task assistance, work relationships promote personal growth, career advancement, emotional support, a source of friendship, and an opportunity to give to others. Relationships promote perceptions of meaningful work, has potential to increase job satisfaction, create positive emotions at work, and support life satisfaction (Colbert, Bono & Purvanova,