How do you develop and maintain positive relationships with your students and colleagues?

Building positive relationships with students and colleagues centers around open communication and empathy. In the Indian higher education system, where diverse backgrounds converge, I prioritize active listening and personalized support. At my current institution, we initiated informal faculty-student meetups to break down hierarchical barriers, fostering trust. With colleagues, collaborative projects and peer mentoring have enhanced teamwork and mutual respect. These initiatives create a supportive, inclusive academic community where both students and staff feel valued, boosting overall morale and productivity.

Building trust and open communication is the foundation of positive relationships with students and colleagues. In India, mentoring systems, like those at IISc, encourage one-on-one guidance, fostering deeper connections with students. Internationally, Finland’s education model emphasizes collaboration between educators, promoting a culture of mutual respect and shared learning. Regular check-ins, active listening, and recognizing achievements—both big and small—are practical ways to build these relationships. Creating a supportive environment where ideas are freely exchanged and growth is celebrated ensures strong, lasting connections that benefit both the individual and the institution.

One mistake I see in newer staff, and one I was guilty of in my own younger years, is this idea that we have to draw a hard line as an authority figure. But education isn’t about authority, it’s about collaboration. Yes, sometimes we have to hold the standards, but we can do so as mentors (not dictators) and maintain a respectful tone and honest desire to help the person along the way.

A successful communication strategy for maintaining trust between students and faculty must focus on transparency, consistency, and inclusivity. Regular updates about policies, decisions, and institutional challenges ensure everyone stays informed and involved. Open channels for feedback, such as forums or surveys, promote two-way communication, making both groups feel heard and valued. Clear messaging about the institution’s goals and expectations fosters alignment and mutual understanding. Most importantly, showing empathy and respect when addressing concerns builds a sense of community and trust, helping to maintain a positive academic environment.

Building and maintaining positive relationships with students and colleagues hinges on open communication, empathy, and mutual respect. As Academic Registrar, I prioritize active listening and regular interactions with both groups to understand their needs and concerns. For instance, I hold periodic feedback sessions with faculty to address challenges and brainstorm solutions collaboratively. With students, I ensure accessibility through regular office hours and by addressing academic concerns promptly. These practices foster trust, enhance collaboration, and create an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. By maintaining transparency and a proactive approach, relationships become stronger and more supportive over time.

Simply show up – physically or digitally. We all have crazy, busy schedules but it is important to carve out time to stop by or log into a student event, spontaneously swing by your colleague’s office or send a quick message of encouragement. Small moments can have a significant impact.

To foster positive relationships with students and colleagues, practice active listening and open communication, showing genuine interest in the views and experiences of others. For example, - Emphasize empathy and respect for diverse backgrounds and challenges. - Be reliable and consistent in your actions, ensuring trust and dependability. - Offer constructive feedback to encourage growth and collaborate on shared goals to build community. - Regularly acknowledge and appreciate contributions, making each individual feel valued. - Address conflicts constructively, viewing them as opportunities for understanding and development. These actions demonstrate appreciation and interest, creating a supportive and inclusive environment.

Showing genuine interest and appreciation is key to building strong relationships with students and colleagues. Taking the time to understand their goals, strengths, and challenges fosters a sense of value and trust. I believe that small gestures, like acknowledging efforts or celebrating achievements, can make a significant impact. Demonstrating appreciation for their unique contributions creates a positive, motivating environment where everyone feels recognized. By consistently showing interest and expressing gratitude, we encourage a culture of respect and support, ultimately enhancing teamwork, engagement, and overall satisfaction within the academic and professional community.

Key point here- it has to be genuine. People can sniff out phony compliments and implicitly know when someone is trying to ‘butter them up.’ Developing relationships is not transactional, it’s not about getting on someone’s good side so that you can get something from them later- it’s about real, genuine relationships.

Seeking feedback and fostering collaboration are essential for growth and continuous improvement in any academic or professional setting. Actively inviting input from students and colleagues not only demonstrates respect for their perspectives but also helps identify areas for enhancement. I believe that creating open channels for feedback encourages meaningful dialogue, while collaborative efforts strengthen teamwork and innovation. By valuing everyone’s ideas and working together to solve challenges, we build a more supportive and dynamic environment. This approach leads to better decision-making, shared ownership, and a stronger commitment to achieving collective goals.

I think objective of a teacher should not be maintaining good relationships particularly with students, it should rather be helping students to reach their potential. Toughest Teachers are Remembered More

Seeking feedback and collaboration from students and colleagues fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Openness to diverse perspectives and constructive criticism enhances professional growth and problem-solving abilities. Through reciprocal exchange of expertise and support, relationships are strengthened, leading to greater success and satisfaction in academic endeavors.

Irrespective, of your level feedback is always useful. Those staff who proactively seek out constructive criticism from a range of colleagues including from their peers or juniors are the managers that I expect to rise quickest. A 360 review is always useful even if you don't always agree with the results. But it is what you do after receiving this information that truly will make you excel. Is it maximise your strengths or mitigate your weaknesses? Do you go to a peer who you contrast to or a senior manager of your style to see how they overcome pitfalls?

Resolving conflicts promptly and respectfully is essential for preserving relationships in academia. By addressing misunderstandings calmly and utilizing effective strategies like negotiation or mediation, conflicts can be resolved constructively. Establishing clear boundaries, roles, and norms helps prevent misunderstandings and minimize future conflicts. Cultivating a culture of open communication and empathy fosters mutual understanding, strengthening relationships and promoting a supportive academic community.

Recently a newer manager approached me about a conflict she had with a member of her team. I gave her some guidance, and afterwards she asked me how the bigger question- how to understand conflict management in general. I explained that it starts with knowing yourself and your guiding principles- when you have respect for your team and gratitude for their contributions, that naturally provides a positive context around that person for when there’s an issue that needs to be addressed. I always remember that it’s about me AND the other person, not me VERSUS them.

Consistency is paramount. When we build a transparent framework where outcomes of action/inaction are known, trust is built. Irrespective of the answer, trust is there as as it is the norm.

Easiest way to build and maintain trust is to follow through on the things we say that we’re going to do. The difficult part is that many educators are people-pleasers by nature, so it becomes hard to say ‘no’, which leads to a state of overwhelm and makes following through more challenging. People will still trust you if/when you say ‘no’, and in fact it makes you more credible for the times that you say ‘yes.’

One of the ways to maintain trust is making sure to stay connected and make an effort to keep in touch, rather than just reaching out when the person is needed or can be helpful for something. Like with building genuine connections in any context, it's about providing value and being there for colleagues in an authentic way.

I’ve worked with some AMAZING educators who burned out and left education altogether. The most common need I saw in these super well-meaning people is that they couldn’t compartmentalize or keep professional distance. Caring for students is important, but like in airplanes you need to take care of your own oxygen first.

Start with the why! Why do you want to maintain positive relationships with your students and colleagues? How do you know if you have? How do you know if you haven't? Sometimes we set off in a direction that sounds right without truly understanding the founding principles of what we are trying to achieve.

Be present. Be accessible. It's hard to build relationships with people we don't see. Make space in your week for visits to common student spaces, staff offices and say hello, find out what people are working on and thinking about, and connect on mutual interests. This can be a great way to engage people informally to test ideas and inquire about impact of prospective initiatives. And it helps build trust as long as you can do this authentically with a real interest in others.

Focus on what connects everyone, which includes the institutional values and mission. This can help focus disagreements on what is important and make collaborative efforts possible.

Building positive relationships with students and colleagues relies on active listening, open communication, empathy, and mutual respect. Demonstrating reliability and professionalism establishes trust while providing constructive feedback encourages growth. Embrace a collaborative mindset to foster teamwork and a sense of community. Acknowledge and appreciate everyone's contributions, addressing conflicts constructively to promote understanding. Investing in personal development enhances your ability to connect with others effectively. These practices create a supportive environment conducive to learning and collaboration, reinforcing the value of every individual within the educational community.

Truth, sincerity and openness are the key that open any communication. But in the working environment the most valuable relationships you may create is with those you share common vision. When these three basic rules are violated, I may not tolerate this to endure positive attitude to this person. I believe that it's better to directly express what you are than interacting with other people in disguise never showing your real face.