How to Truly Connect with Others and Nurture Better Relationships within Your Workplace

The workplace is about people: people like to work with people they know, like, and trust.

Despite this, I’ve spoken with many corporate employees who often feel they need to have a professional face that hides their personal world. Unconsciously, they have separate worlds and aren’t open to sharing themselves at work. Sound familiar?

Although you may have good intentions in shielding your co-workers from your personal life, this is actually counterproductive. People like to feel a connection with their fellow employees, and if you’re not open to that connection, people will not be open to you.

Yes, Being Open Requires Strength and Courage

The strongest leaders are those that have the courage to be vulnerable in front of their co-workers. It doesn’t mean they’re weak, it doesn’t mean they’re complaining, it just means that they are aware of their strengths and weaknesses and work with them, not against them.

Tweet: The strongest leaders are those that have the courage to be vulnerable in front of their co-workers.

There is a reason most companies hire from within or by personal recommendation. People also like to hire people they know, like, and trust – this is why it’s really important to nurture those meaningful relationships within your organization. They will become your support system: when you need advice, there will be someone you can ask.

You don’t get promoted by being a shiny object in the office; it’s through connections and having people who believe in you because they trust you.

Find a Super Support System

I highly recommend creating a support network for yourself with colleagues, your boss/superiors, people in different departments that interest you, people in the industry outside of your company, your alumni network, local community members, a place of worship, professional associations, Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s), mentors and friends.

When you are being mentored, you are receiving a lot, but that’s because you are receiving the wisdom of someone who’s walking a little ahead of you. Being mentored will help you navigate through the career maze so you can mentor the next person. You’re giving back to the ecosystem.  By doing that, you’re nurturing those meaningful relationships.

Being promotable is having a clear understanding of where you want to be and understanding your definition of success. Then it’s a matter of doing what you need to do to achieve that vision.  Nurturing meaningful relationships will support the vision and life you want.

Remember, when you achieve your vision, you are adding value to society. Your promotion is a win-win for the company because you are a high performer and you are going to drive the business in many ways.

If marketing or promoting yourself makes you feel icky and seems self-centered, look at the bigger picture. It doesn’t mean you’re blocking someone else from getting promoted, it doesn’t mean you’re being aggressive, and it doesn’t mean you’re knocking people off the ladder. Everyone has equal opportunity. You’re not competing with someone else—you’re competing with yourself, and you’re benefiting the whole system when you better yourself.

If you’d like to get clearer on what that means for you specifically, grab my free info-tool “10 Steps to Position Yourself for Your Next Promotion” HERE. You’ll learn the exact steps that I coach my clients to get unstuck, and elevate their career to the next level authentically.

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Nozomi Morgan, MBA, is a certified Executive Coach and the Founder and President of Michiki Morgan Worldwide LLC. Addition to coaching, she speaks and trains on leadership, career, professional development and cross-cultural business communication.

Nozomi’s clients have a yen for international business, to be successful in the global marketplace, and savvy in international and cross-cultural relations. Her work includes coaching experienced professionals from all over the world — from C-suite executives to up-and-coming managers.

She also works with multinational teams within global corporations to overcome the tension and frustration that can naturally arise from cultural differences. Her clients experience dramatic improvement in key performance indicators through enhancing communication and cultivating trust.

Her diverse international background—having lived in Asia, Europe and North America—gives her a wealth of experience and knowledge as a coach, speaker and mentor. Born and raised in Japan, she values integrity, professionalism, and respect, all of which are tenets of her deeply ingrained heritage.

Visit www.nozomimorgan.com to learn more about Nozomi. There, you can download the free Leadership Discovery Tool.