The ability to navigate workplace relationships can make or break your career. Though it’s easy to view them as simply negative or positive, virtually all are a mix of both and require careful thought to manage. The trick is to step back and dispassionately analyze what type of relationship you’re in—conflict, competition, independence, cooperation, or collaboration. Where on that spectrum you and your colleague fall will be determined by the degree to which your interests align—or clash. The more in sync interests are, the more positive a relationship is. Each type calls for a different set of tactics, but even the negative relationships, if handled appropriately, can still yield rewards.
Let’s acknowledge an uncomfortable truth about workplaces: The people who thrive in them are those who know how to both collaborate and compete with their colleagues. They clearly understand how work relationships affect their interests and the organization’s, carefully consider the risks and trade-offs, and dispassionately decide how much to invest in each coworker and when to walk away.
