A Key to Retention? Building Relationships at Work

November 14, 2025

Employees can have great pay and flexible hours, but if they feel disconnected from the people around them, work quickly starts to feel like … work.

Strong relationships with co-workers can lead to more engagement, resilience, and increased likelihood of remaining in a job (even when faced with tight deadlines or budgets). Building relationships at work not only protects against stress and burnout, but helps people feel supported through challenges and boosts overall well-being. When employees feel part of something bigger, collaboration flows more naturally, communication improves, and teams thrive.

Unfortunately, not everyone feels that sense of connection. About a quarter of employees say they feel lonely or isolated at work—and younger workers report the highest rates. For those from underrepresented or historically marginalized backgrounds, it can be even harder. Black and Latinx professionals, for example, are nearly twice as likely as their White peers to report difficulty forming close work friendships with remote co-workers. When cultural barriers or lack of representation get in the way, relationships can stall at surface-level small talk instead of growing into real trust and belonging.

And connection doesn’t mean friendships with everyone—it can be a few genuine relationships where people feel open, respected, and supported. Those trusted bonds are what make the biggest difference in how people experience their work. Strong relationships don’t just make work feel easier and more tolerable; they make employees feel more of their humanity. When people feel safe to show up as themselves—and see others doing the same—it builds a culture of care, trust, and community that benefits everyone.

How to build relationships at work

Whether it’s the teammate who supports you, the mentor who challenges you, or the colleague who just gets your sense of humor, relationships at work set the tone for how people show up every day. It’s a few authentic connections that make work feel collaborative, supportive, and real.

The strongest relationships often share a few qualities:

• Feeling safe to speak honestly and take risks
• Practicing openness about decisions, challenges, and uncertainty
• Owning mistakes, sharing credit, and stepping up for each other
• Maintaining consistency and authenticity
• Showing frequent and genuine appreciation

Building relationships in the workplace doesn’t require grand gestures or forced fun. (No one ever found lifelong belonging through a mandatory trust fall.) It’s about steady, genuine effort through small actions that show people they matter.

#1 Be open and respectful

Building strong relationships at work starts with respect. Stay curious about different perspectives, communication styles, and backgrounds, even when they don’t match your own. When someone shares an opinion, listen first instead of rushing to respond. If you make a mistake, own it and move on. Openness grows when people feel heard and valued for who they are.

#2 Practice active listening

When someone’s talking, give them your full attention. Not “half-listen while planning your response” listening. Reflect what you’ve heard (“It sounds like you’re saying…”), ask questions that invite more than a yes or no, and resist the urge to fix things right away. Sometimes people just need to feel understood.

#3 Show empathy

Everyone’s carrying something you can’t see—stress, family issues, health concerns. If someone seems off, check in gently: “Hey, how are you holding up?” or “Anything I can do to help?” A little patience and compassion can build a lot of trust. 

#4 Offer help, and ask for it

If you see someone underwater, offer a hand. And don’t hesitate to ask for help yourself. It’s not a weakness. It shows trust and respect for others’ strengths. Sharing the load keeps work collaborative instead of competitive and helps teams build stronger bonds.

#5 Create opportunities for connection

Connection doesn’t happen by accident. Join in on team lunches, coffee chats, or volunteer days. Even quick “what’s going well?” check-ins can go a long way. These moments matter less for their frequency and more for their authenticity. A few real connections will outlast a dozen polite interactions.

#6 Respect boundaries

Not everyone wants to join every chat thread or after-hours happy hour. Some people recharge quietly; others thrive on connection. Be mindful about when and how you reach out, especially outside work hours. Respecting boundaries keeps relationships healthy and sustainable.

#7 Celebrate often 

Build relationships at work by taking a moment to notice what other teammates are doing. A quick “great idea” or “thanks for jumping in on that” goes a long way. Celebrate wins big and small—the progress, effort, and behind-the-scenes saves that make everyone’s job easier. When teammates recognize each other genuinely and often, work feels lighter, friendlier, and more connected.

Better work starts with better relationships

Building relationships in the workplace happens in everyday moments—the quick check-ins, the shared laughs, the small signs of care. A few meaningful connections can transform how someone feels at work. When people consistently show up for each other, work feels less transactional and more human. And when organizations intentionally nurture that kind of culture, they don’t just build stronger teams, they create places where people want to stay and do their best work.