What are the most effective ways to build strong relationships with your team?

1 Communicate clearly and frequently

Communication is the key to any successful relationship, especially in IT operations. You need to share information, updates, feedback, and expectations with your team regularly and clearly. Use the appropriate channels and tools for different purposes, such as email, chat, video calls, or project management software. Avoid jargon, ambiguity, and assumptions, and always check for understanding and confirmation. Be respectful, polite, and professional in your tone and style, and listen actively and empathetically to your team members.

2 Show appreciation and recognition

Everyone likes to feel valued and appreciated for their work, and your team is no exception. Make sure you acknowledge and praise your team members for their contributions, achievements, and efforts. Give specific and timely feedback, and celebrate successes and milestones. You can also show appreciation by offering support, guidance, mentoring, or learning opportunities to your team members. Express gratitude and respect for their skills, ideas, and perspectives, and encourage them to share their opinions and suggestions.

3 Build rapport and trust

Relationships are not only based on work, but also on personal connections. You can build rapport and trust with your team by getting to know them as individuals, not just as roles. Learn about their backgrounds, interests, hobbies, goals, and challenges. Share some aspects of your own personality and life, and find common ground. Be friendly, approachable, and supportive, and show genuine interest and curiosity. You can also create opportunities for informal interactions, such as virtual coffee breaks, team building activities, or social events.

4 Resolve conflicts and issues

Conflicts and issues are inevitable in any team, especially in IT operations, where you may face tight deadlines, changing requirements, technical glitches, or stakeholder pressure. However, you can turn these challenges into opportunities to strengthen your relationships, if you handle them effectively. Don't ignore or avoid conflicts, but address them promptly and constructively. Use positive and respectful language, focus on the problem, not the person, and seek to understand the other party's perspective and needs. Aim for a win-win solution that satisfies both sides, and follow up to ensure the issue is resolved.

5 Align goals and expectations

Another way to build strong relationships with your team is to align your goals and expectations with theirs. This means you need to understand the vision, mission, and strategy of your organization, department, and project, and how they relate to your team's roles and responsibilities. You also need to communicate your own goals and expectations to your team, and understand theirs. Make sure you are on the same page about the scope, deliverables, timeline, quality, and resources of your work. Review and adjust your goals and expectations regularly, and track and measure your progress.

6 Demonstrate leadership and initiative

Finally, you can build strong relationships with your team by demonstrating leadership and initiative. This does not mean you have to be the boss or the expert, but rather that you show initiative, proactivity, and responsibility in your work. You can do this by taking on challenging tasks, proposing innovative solutions, sharing best practices, or volunteering for extra duties. You can also demonstrate leadership by inspiring, motivating, and empowering your team members, and by advocating for them and their work to your managers and stakeholders.