Essay Sample: Emergency Medical Services Division Field Operations Supervisor

The workplace retains a central role in many people’s lives.  With the average person spending more time at work than any other daily activity, it is vital that individuals within any organization feel connected and supported by their peers, subordinates and leaders.  Positive interactions in the workplace are marked by trust, mutual respect, and being involved.  These qualities may improve employee awareness of others, create positive emotions such as empathy and compassion, and increase the likelihood of establishing trust.  In contrast, negative interactions are characterized by animosity, exclusion, and distrust which can cause stress and job dissatisfaction.  Whether organizations and their employees flounder or flourish largely depends on the quality of the social relationships they possess.

It is crucial that leaders and managers determine ways in which positive workplace relationships can be promoted.  Daily social interactions play an essential role in the wellbeing of the entire organization.  Employees who are satisfied with the overall quality of their workplace relationships are likely to be more attached to the organization.  

Promote face to face interaction:  With the development of the internet, social media, text messages, etc. a new style of communication has emerged.  With these advancements, it has allowed us to quickly communicate with a click of a button.  Because of this, we lose the nuances of nonverbal cues and tone. 

Plan collaborative events:  Leaders who encourage informal interactions, such as off duty social gatherings can foster the development of more positive relationships and significantly influence and improve employee satisfaction.  Relationships between co-workers act as an important source of emotional support for employees which will develop a more trusting bond.  When trust exists between team members, it may lead to a positive behavior such as giving guidance, advice or feedback on various work related matters.

Effectively mediate conflicts:  Leaders should make attempts to minimize negative interactions between employees by proactively mediating and resolving differences early on and building a culture of open communication that fosters trust and relationship building.

Leading by example:  Creating an environment that nurtures positive social interactions between employees is a significant first step, but to promote relationships, a good team leader, supervisor, or manager should always practice what they preach.  By establishing consistent patterns of behavior that exemplify the desired culture, you can promote an environment of positivity.  

The workplace is one of the few environments where people are “forced” into relationships.  By their very nature, workplace environments are made up of a blend of diverse groups of people.  While a department's greatest assets are its employees, those employees do not work together harmoniously at all times.  Through the promotion of positive social interactions, workplace relationships can be a source of individual and collective growth, learning and flourishing.