What are some effective ways to build rapport with colleagues outside of work?

I love this. I watched a colleague share openly about a holiday performance she was participating in and sent a mass invite out to anyone who might be interested in holiday cheer on her specific performance dates. The result, some team members showed up, they shared photos and we celebrated our colleague. It grew the relationship between the colleague and her team members who showed up but also allowed for bonding for those of us who were interested in hearing the updates, seeing the photos, and celebrating our colleague's success.

As well as sharing your hobbies, show genuine interest in what your colleagues do outside of work. If you have a terrible memory as I do, keep a note of important details that your colleagues share (children's names, pets, sports team, weekend activities) and then proactively ask them about them. Remembering and enquiring about things hat are important to people is a great way to build rapport.

You don't have to be actually "outside of work" to build rapport. Simply asking how they're doing, asking how their weekend went. During meetings, finding out personal things about them (family, sports teams, etc.) goes a long way. In my role, knowing who got engaged and celebrating this, who was able to get an at home task completed and congratulating them goes so far in building the relationships needed.

Building rapport with colleagues outside of work can be a rewarding experience. One effective way to do this is by sharing your hobbies and passions. When you open up about your interests, it creates opportunities for bonding beyond the office. Whether it's discussing a shared hobby, attending events together, or even starting a hobby club at work, these connections can strengthen relationships and lead to more meaningful collaborations in the workplace. So, don't hesitate to share your passions – it's a simple yet powerful way to connect with colleagues on a personal level.

Sharing our hobbies and interests is like handing someone a key to a part of our world. It goes beyond just chit-chat and small talk—it's a way of saying, "This is me, and I want to know about you too." When we let others in on what makes us tick, it creates a special connection. It's like finding common ground and rapport can be built easily from there.

This is the best way of building a rapport and potentially even a friendship with anyone, not just colleagues. Everyone no matter what has at least one subject or activity that they are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about, the hard part will be coaxing out of them what this is, but once you've found it they will be more than happy to talk to you about that for hours on end. Normally there will be more than one of these subjects but this will open the door for you, as nobody wants to talk with someone exclusively about one thing forever.

Todo mundo tem algum gosto em comum. Tinha colega que adorava arte (como eu) e outra que adorava futebol (como eu também). Se você trabalha em home office e está distante fisicamente dessas pessoas, converse sobre esses assuntos e interaja com elas nas redes sociais. É uma forma de alimentar os relacionamentos com os colegas, apesar da distância :)

As the #remotegurugirl I cannot stress enough VIRTUAL HANGS! Virtual Hangouts: In today’s remote work environment, organizing virtual hangouts, like online game nights or virtual happy hours, can be a great way to engage with colleagues who might not be in the same geographic location.

Eu sei, eventos sociais da empresa às vezes não é super divertido. Mas aqui vai uma dica de uma pessoa introvertida: você pode se surpreender. Lembro de um dia, que fiquei com 3 colegas (todos bem mais novos eu), assistindo um jogo da seleção brasileira (era Copa do Mundo). Foi uma delícia e depois disso nos tornamos amigos. Não foi nada combinado, mas deixamos acontecer gerando uma conexão duradoura.

Cultivating strong interdepartmental relationships is a priority for me. Therefore, I make a weekly effort to recognize successful collaborations by capturing a specific revenue win achieved with a partner from another department. I express my appreciation through a positive email sent to my peer and their manager, reinforcing the value of teamwork and fostering trust and rapport across the organization.

I would be very careful about offering unsolicited constructive feedback because no matter if the intentions are good, it can sometimes be taken badly by the receiving party. I would advise only offering feedback when requested. Another good way to build rapport is by asking people for their expertise on particular work problems. Asking someone for their help demonstrates you respect and trust their professional opinion and will help develop a good relationship.

Elogiar e dar feedbacks, isso é muito importante! Mas aqui vai um alerta: seja sincero e certeiro. Já vi muitas pessoas elogiando constantemente como uma prática bem intencionada. No início, pode parecer bom (eleva a autoestima dos colaboradores), mas depois a gente começa a duvidar: o que, realmente, era digno de elogio? Dica extra: seja descritivo no elogio, assim ele não fica parecendo algo automático, genérico e impessoal.

Uma das formas mais eficazes de estabelecer laços com colegas fora do ambiente de trabalho é demonstrar interesse genuíno por suas vidas além do trabalho. Ter curiosidade, compartilhar hobbies e atividades em comum são maneiras excelentes de fortalecer os laços. Isso pode envolver desde participar de grupos de interesse mútuo, como clubes de leitura ou esportes, até simplesmente compartilhar conversas informais sobre interesses compartilhados, como filmes, música ou hobbies específicos. Criar vínculos significativos traz uma sensação de pertencimento valiosa para nosso dia a dia.

Asking open-ended questions is great for building connections. It's not about the yes/no game but diving into real talks. You're basically saying, "Spill the beans, what's on your mind?" It's a great way to show you're interested in someone's story.

E se abra! Já reparou que nos abrimos com um desconhecido em uma festa, mas não nos abrimos com um colega de trabalho que interagimos diariamente por horas? Você não precisa virar amigo de todo mundo, mas seja aberto e, quem lhe interessar, faça perguntas abertas, fechadas... crie relacionamentos 💜

Forget the fact they're a colleague, this could be with anyone you meet. Open ended questions allow people to tell you their story rather than constricting them to a specific subject. Listen attentively, use the RASA framework. Receive the message, and appreciate it whilst you do (demonstrate engagement with your body language, facial expressions etc.). Then summarise, so you show you HAVE listened, before asking more questions. Repeat. This will allow you to identify common ground, which you can then build on further and form genuine lasting connections. Come back to this info in future. Ask follow up questions to demonstrate genuine interest: "how's your wife?" "are your kids still playing?".

You never know what anyone else is going through. Empathy is monumental when dealing with coworkers as you usually don't know them on an intimate level. Always show support, provide encouragement, and give them compliments when you can. Kindness is free.

Recentemente, uma colega me falou: "você é das pessoas mais empáticas que conheço". Acho que foi o maior elogio que recebi nos últimos tempos. Seja VERDADEIRAMENTE empático e não utilize a empatia para "se dar bem" em determinadas situações ou criar conexões; isso é das piores coisas que já vi acontecendo no ambiente de trabalho. A empatia deve ser um valor e uma prática em todas as situações. Das mais fáceis às mais difíceis.

Building rapport outside of work involves fostering genuine connections. Engage in activities beyond work discussions, like team outings or shared hobbies, to nurture camaraderie. Being respectful and empathetic amplifies this bond. Respect creates a positive environment, valuing diverse opinions and boundaries. Empathy fuels understanding, showing genuine interest in colleagues' lives beyond work challenges. It deepens connections, fostering trust and mutual support. By respecting individual boundaries and displaying empathy, relationships extend beyond professional confines, laying the foundation for a supportive and harmonious work environment.

Remember that everyone has a different personality; some people are introverted and may find it difficult to be overly engaged or attend work events. You may need to make extra effort with some individuals whilst with others it comes naturally. The key is to show genuine interest and be empathetic to everyone you engage with.

Criar relacionamento é diferente de criar amizade. Tem colegas que se tornarão seus amigos, tem amigos que se tornarão seus colegas, mas em todo caso, você pode criar boas relações. Crie a relação que você deseja e seja autêntico, honrando o que se dispôs a criar. Isso demonstra respeito e coerência 💜