The Bottom Line

A few telltale signs that you share a good rapport with a colleagues:

• You don’t always need to provide a ton of context and background information because you’re confident you’re both on the same page.
• You own your mistakes in front of them because they give you the benefit of ...

• Invite a colleague to grab a quick lunch or coffee so you have some dedicated time to connect.
• When you know somebody has a stressful day or week, stop by their desk with a treat or even a few encouraging words to let them know you’re rooting for them. 
• Reserve some time at t...

• Stop by their desk with a small treat to celebrate a recent win or accomplishment.
• Offer a genuine compliment about a job well done, whether that’s one-on-one or in a team meeting.
• Write a quick “thank you” note or email to express your gratitude for their stepping in to help...

In all honesty, almost everything you need to know about building rapport and being a good colleague you likely learned in kindergarten with this golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.

It sounds basic, but it’s important. You can bring in donuts or make an effort to ask s...

Recognition at work is so often talked about from the top-down—as if it always has to come from senior leadership or a manager. 

People want to know when they’re doing well, and hearing that (especially u...

• Begin meetings with a funny or lighthearted icebreaker to get everybody comfortable and learn more about each other in the process.
• Make an effort to actually follow up on the personal information that people openly share, whether they shared it with the whole team or you directly.

• Practice active listening to ensure you actually understand what’s being communicated before taking action.
• Own your responsibilities, meet your deadlines, and follow through on promises you make to your colleagues.
• Offer to step in and help someone when they’re overwhelmed o...

Officially, the word rapport is defined as a friendly, harmonious relationship. Especially: a relationship characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy.

Rapport goes further than simply talking about the weather or d...

How much do you really know about your coworkers? You might know little quirks like that Arial is their preferred font or that they can’t stand when someone doesn’t clear the cooking time from the break room microwave.

But, much like you, they have entire lives—families, hobbies, e...

Tighter bonds and relationships: Science says that we all share a basic human motivation to affiliate with other people, and rapport helps us feel closer to the people we work with.  

Increased happiness and job satisfaction: Those more tight-knit and comfo...

You spend a lot of time interacting with your coworkers, but that doesn’t mean you inherently share a tight-knit relationship. In fact, 41% of Americans say their coworkers are just that: coworkers. 

That’s understandable when the bulk of your conversations centre on work. You talk about pr...