Building relations - learner

1. Introduction to building relations

To build good relations at work with coworkers, leaders and related target groups are ideal for achieving goals, an incentive and stimulus for good atmosphere, prosperity and creativity for all. Often building relationships is the groundwork that must be laid before anything else gets done at work. It doesn't make sense to form relationships just to get people to do work for the institution or enterprise. That will not work because people will feel used. We form relationships because we genuinely like someone, because we share some common goal or because we simply need to know that it is necessary for the well-being for all at work. 

Relation-building can imply many factors and all of them are heavily depended on everyone’s good efforts and contribution. To guide learners to develop and be aware of own skills in building relations is important to all at work. This module focus on these topics:

• Communication style
  
• Networking and teambuilding
  
• Dealing with negative and difficult people and situations
  
• Customer service
  

1.1. Communication styles

At work you will speak with different target groups in a variety of professional settings. The content of communication is related to professional tasks at meetings, in different presentations or you have to respond spontaneously to variation of requests. Often, communication and use of oral language at work is characterized by efficiency and rapid or prompt exchange of words. To stay calm, to choose appropriate words and expressions can be a challenge. Communication style to build relations at work require skills in:

• basic communication principles as listen to others as much as own speaking
  
• strategies for speaking on the spot
  
• avoid intimidated feeling
  
• listen and withhold judgment
  

Discuss with fellow learner or trainer challenges, as you have experienced them by using different communication styles at work. Describe your viewpoints in a few sentences.

1.2. Networking and teambuilding

At work, you have to cooperate and build relations to coworkers to achieve goals and work efficiently. To give and take, to be creative and have ability to share is important for working processes. This require certain skills from all, such as:   

• obtain trust and have confidence 
  
• overcome fear of rejection
  
• be friendly and make a connection
  
• know principles from goal settings to evaluation in teamwork 
  

How will you describe your skills related to the four bullet points above? Use a sentence or two to each point.

1.3. Negative and difficult people and situations

At work, you have or will experience difficult situations and people with negative attitudes of different kinds. You have to learn how to deal with this in a way that brings communication, cooperation and good relations to coworkers further on. This require certain skills related to: 

• Negotiation and problem-solving
  
• Creating harmony
  

Describe your ability and skills to master both negotiation and problem-solving and to create harmony at workplace. Include also how you can develop these skills.

1.4. Customers service

To attend good relation to different target groups as clients, customers, patients or relatives, require awareness on how to communicate, on your own attitude and behavior. Furthermore, you have to adjust your style and service appropriate to different target group. This indicate certain skills as:

• Attitudes and behavior towards different target groups
  
• Managing complaints from different target groups
  

Identify and describe your own attitudes and behavior towards different target groups. How will you describe your ability to master complaints from clients, customers and so on?