Three Ways to Make a Coworker's Day Better

Building strong coworker relationships is one of the best ways to get more enjoyment out of your career. When you have friends at work, you have people who will support you and offer suggestions to help you succeed. One way to build strong coworker relationships is to do something nice for your colleagues every once in a while. Showing people they are valued will help you make friends at work and excel in your business career.

Some workers learn about new job opportunities from their professional contacts, so it is in your best interest to cultivate good coworker relationships at every job you hold. Starting a game of "pass the bouquet" is a good way to brighten the day of someone who is swamped with work or struggling with a personal problem. Purchase an inexpensive bouquet, and bring it to work with you. Give it to one of your coworkers along with an encouraging note. Ask your coworker to give the bouquet to another colleague the next day, and each person in the chain must pass the bouquet to another person over the course of a week. This is a great way to help build coworker relationships among a group of people.

Writing a sincere note to a colleague is another good way to build positive coworker relationships. Showing people you appreciate their work and value their contributions to your team will help you make friends and strengthen your professional network. Email notes are nice, but they don't make as much of an impact as card or a note written on nice stationery. Instead of writing a generic note, be specific about why you appreciate your coworker. Mention projects the two of you worked on together or something the colleague did to help you out in a pinch.

Finally, giving a coworker a small token of your appreciation can help you build strong coworker relationships and create a positive atmosphere for the people in your department. If you decide to give a gift, make sure it is appropriate for the workplace. Don't give something the recipient would be embarrassed to open in front of your boss or other colleagues. If you have a crafty coworker, a gift card to the local hobby shop is a good gift. If your coworker loves dogs, try a magnet or notepad with pictures of her favorite breed.

Developing friendships with your coworkers is a good way to make your time at the office a little more enjoyable. Making an effort to make your coworker's day better is a nice way to show your appreciation and let people know you value their efforts. If a game of pass the bouquet is not your style—or a coworkers has allergies—try writing a heartfelt note or giving your coworker a small gift. This will make it easier to build good coworker relationships in your workplace.

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