Women's Month spotlight: The power of workplace relationships

As we celebrate Women’s Month, it’s crucial to reflect not just on women’s achievements, but also on how nurturing supportive relationships at work empowers women—and enhances work environments for everyone. 

Why strong relationships matter, especially for women 

• Emotional support and mental health 
  Women often turn to colleagues for empathy and encouragement—sometimes more than to partners—because of the immediate, nonjudgmental outlet they provide. This trust among coworkers helps many women navigate daily work challenges with greater resilience. 

• Well-being and job satisfaction 
  Friendships in the workplace contribute significantly to job satisfaction, mental health, and even longevity—while loneliness equates to serious health risks. Having supportive peers can guard against burnout and improve performance. 

• Belonging and retention 
  Research shows that women—who often have a strong need for affiliation—thrive in workplaces where meaningful connections are encouraged. Two-thirds of women cite the social aspect of their job as a major reason to stay engaged (Psychology Today, 2019). 

• Reduced conflict among women 
  In male-dominated environments, fostering strong social ties among women lessens the likelihood of conflict and promotes harmony. 

• Collaboration and career momentum 
  When women hold leadership positions in structured hierarchies, they are more likely to mentor and collaborate with junior women, fostering repeated teamwork and advancement opportunities. 

Beyond friendship: The organisational upside 

Good interpersonal relationships at work can have a positive impact on the organisation as a whole. Here are some benefits: 

• Enhanced communication and culture 
  Strong interpersonal bonds foster open dialogue, trust, and psychological safety—where people feel safe voicing ideas, asking questions, or admitting mistakes—boosting innovation and learning (Harvard Business Review, 2022). 

• Higher productivity and engagement 
  Positive relationships lead to better collaboration, greater efficiency, and higher engagement—all essential to both individual fulfilment and organisational success (Positive Psychology, 2021). 

• Conflict prevention 
  Nurturing interpersonal ties reduces misunderstandings and friction, creating a more harmonious workplace. 

Tips to build healthy workplace relationships 

Healthy relationships do not always come naturally for everyone. Here are a few ideas that may help: 

1. Be intentional with connections 
   Actively listen, show empathy, and build trust through reliability and transparency. 

2. Cultivate psychological safety 
   Promote an environment where everyone—including women—feels safe to speak up and contribute. 

3. Mentor and support 
   Encourage women in senior roles to uplift those starting out—this strengthens networks and retention. 

4. Foster inclusion and belonging 
   Organise team events and support peer networks to weave a social fabric where women feel included. 

5. Set healthy boundaries 
   While friendships are powerful, respect privacy and professionalism—avoiding oversharing or gossip maintains trust. 

Conclusion 

This Women’s Month let’s celebrate not just women's accomplishments, but also the relationships that empower them every day. When workplaces prioritise connection, empathy, and inclusion, women—and the broader organisation—stand to gain a lot. 

Additional reading 

Seppälä, E., & McNicols, N.K. (2022, June 21). The power of healthy relationships at work. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/06/the-power-of-healthy-relationships-at-work 

Houston, E. (2019, December 30). The importance of positive relationships in the workplace. Positive Psychology. https://positivepsychology.com/positive-relationships-workplace 

Nelson, A. (2019, December 1). What matters for women at work: Relationships at work. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/he-speaks-she-speaks/201912/what-matters-for-women-at-work-relationships-at-work 

Ducharme, J. (2023, April 26). Work friends are good for your health. Time. https://time.com/6274502/work-friends-health-benefits 

Women Rising. (2023). How to build positive relationships at work. https://womenrisingco.com/articles/how-to-build-positive-relationships-at-work