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From Awkward to Awesome
Building Work Bestie Vibes
Ama Agyapong
March 13, 2025
Hey Ya’ll,
It's been a whirlwind of a week, filled with insightful conversations about leadership and professional development. One key theme that continues to surface is the critical importance of building strong relationships at work, particularly in hybrid environments where it can be challenging to connect with colleagues.
In our last newsletter, we discussed the value of being coachable. However, it struck me that the foundation of coachability and feedback is built on trust and relationships.
RESOURCE:
How to Build Real Relationships at Work
REVELATION:
The article emphasizes that professional success depends not just on doing your job but also on building authentic relationships. In hybrid work environments, this can be awkward but is achievable through four steps:
Break the Silence – Start with simple interactions like saying “hi” in common areas or after meetings. Showing up early to events or reaching out to virtual colleagues helps too.
Turn "Hi" into "Hi Again" – Following up is key to building familiarity. A quick email, a hallway greeting, or sharing relevant info reinforces the connection.
Let’s Chat – Deepen the connection by asking for input, advice, or their story. Seeking their involvement in projects strengthens bonds.
Let’s Build a Relationship – For meaningful professional growth, engage senior mentors by sharing your goals, progress, and challenges. Be open about your needs while respecting their time.
When reconnecting, try questions like:
👉🏾 “What’s been keeping you busy lately?”
👉🏾 “What advice would you give someone starting this project?”
👉🏾 “How did that presentation you mentioned go?”
The article argues that hard work alone isn’t enough to advance professionally—you need to be seen, heard, and known. Strategic relationship-building creates a support network and opens doors to future opportunities.
REFLECTION:
Take a moment to reflect:
How intentional am I about building relationships at work?
Do I follow up after initial conversations?
Whom could I reach out to this week to strengthen a connection?
