According to a Gallup survey, employees who have a close friend at the office are seven times more likely to be engaged in their workplace tasks. This sense of satisfaction is not limited to people with a best friend. Just having a good friend is enough to improve your personal fulfillment, an aspect of work that employees ranked highly in the Staples 2019 Canadian Workplace Survey.

Here, we share four ways to grow strong workplace relationships.

1. Embrace Gratitude and Humility

When interacting with colleagues, embrace an attitude that suggests that the other person may have something to teach you. Doing so ensures you act in a way that increases the number of people who want to work with you.

You want your coworkers to know that you’re looking forward to learning from them and offer your best to the team. Show gratitude to people who support your training and development, especially if you’re new. This attitude helps create positive relationships at work.

2. Practice Active Listening and Observation

Before you share your commentary, take a step back and consider how it fits into the norms and culture of your workplace. Make sure that your views are respectful of your team’s decisions and its journey. Coupling your curiosity with respect develops healthy interactions with your team and colleagues.

3. Have Clear, Realistic Expectations for You and Others

If you’re a team leader or manager looking to boost team morale and improve the company culture, take incremental steps. Have realistic expectations for direct reports, and share those expectations with your team.

When the members of your team have clarity, they can be more confident in their ability to meet your standards. Team members who know exactly what their role is and the roles of their fellow team members are more likely to support each other’s goals as opposed to working in isolation

4. Be Honest and Transparent, Even When It’s Hard

If you been working at the company for a while, you’ve likely had relationships that span both ends of the spectrum. It’s in everyone’s interest that you be proactive about repairing strained relationships. Be ready to acknowledge the issues behind the strain and take responsibility for your role.

Avoid blaming others or deflecting. Own your share of the actions that led to the situation. If possible, arrange a private meeting with the colleague to apologize and reconcile. It’s never too late to apologize and make amends with your coworkers.