Peer relationships play a critical role in your success. Managers who have a good relationship with people in the other departments can have a higher success rate. It is because your peers would want to help you as they have a good relationship with them.

Also, people who manage peer relationships well can have higher engagement and job satisfaction. According to HuffPost’s Workplace Happiness Survey, 70% of employees say friendships at work are a critical element of a happy working life.

Why Should Managers Develop Peer Relationships? 

Developing peer relationships makes others highly invested in the team’s success. They will work with more dedication and commitment since they want the team to succeed. Not just with the team, managers should also develop good relationships with people in other departments.

This way, they can ensure that their and their team’s performance doesn’t get affected. For instance, if the sales managers have a good relationship with the warehouse department, they can ask them to deliver the goods to a particular customer on a priority basis. 

How to Develop Relationships with Peers? 

Developing relationships with peers is essential, but how can you do so? Here are a few things to help you out. 

Listen and Understand the Other Person’s Perspective

Listening to the other person ensures that they don’t feel unheard. Pay attention to what they’re saying and show you’re interested in it by asking relevant questions. 

Also, make sure that there is nothing like cell phones disturbing you when discussing with others. Taking this extra step will help you form a deeper peer-to-peer relationship. 

Recognize and Praise Connection 

Recognizing a colleague’s efforts might seem small, but it can have a significant impact. You will get their respect once you start praising and complimenting them for their hard work. 

Therefore, applaud your peers after an amazing presentation or idea is presented during a meeting. If they are a part of a project, thank them for their contribution. 

Fulfill Your Promise

Trust is one of the most critical factors in any relationship. The case is no different when it comes to peer-to-peer relationships. If you don’t have a high level of trust with your peers, you won’t be able to have a good relationship with them. 

One thing to keep in mind is that you must fulfill any promises you make to your peers. If you promise to deliver a particular file by a specific time, then make sure to do so. If you fail to do so, then this means that the other person might not trust your word again. 

So, make sure to complete tasks before the deadline and don’t leave people hanging. Remember, you won’t be able to have a strong bond with your peers if they don’t trust you. 

Managing Peer Relationships - The Takeaway 

Good peer relationships can allow you to have a better working environment. It will also ensure that these relationships can result in better performance for your team. So, use the tips in this article to form strong bonds with your peers.