The key to building positive relationships at work

Building and nurturing a positive relationship takes time and effort – but the rewards in terms of deeper connection and support are well worth it, writes Tim Jack Adams.

Depending on your work situation, you might find yourself spending more time with your colleagues than with your own family. That’s why it’s so important to nurture those relationships and build something positive, supportive and human. It’s no surprise so many organisations refer to their teams as “family” – and it’s more than just a feel-good phrase.

The word culture actually comes from the Latin word cultus, which means to care for, to cultivate. In essence, your workplace culture is the result of what you tend to – including how you support each other, communicate and show up day to day. A thriving culture isn’t built on policies or posters – it’s built on care. When people feel seen, supported and part of something meaningful, culture becomes more than a buzzword. It becomes a feeling. A rhythm. A lived experience. As a leader, it’s up to you to foster this care, and to attract the right people who will help support this – and not hinder all your hard work. Here are some examples of successful working relationships:

• Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak: The co-founders of Apple, where Jobs was the visionary and Wozniak the engineering genius.
• Sergey Brin and Larry Page: Co-founders of Google who transformed the way we find and use information.
• Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger: Legendary investing partners at Berkshire Hathaway.
• Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield: Founders of Ben & Jerry’s who brought social values into business.
• Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan: A coach/player dynamic that helped create a basketball dynasty.
• Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King: Lifelong friends and professional collaborators.

These duos were more than just great friendships – they were built on real trust, shared goals and the kind of connection that grows through the highs and the hard times. What made them work wasn’t that things were always easy, but that both people kept showing up. They put in the effort, stayed in the conversation and kept moving forward – together.

What set them apart wasn’t perfection, but persistence – a shared commitment to the bigger picture, and a willingness to do the work that lasting success demands. That’s the kind of relationship that doesn’t just survive – it thrives.

So how can you cultivate these kinds of relationships in your workplace? How do you, as a leader, find that person who becomes your other half of the duo – the one who balances you, challenges you, and helps carry the load? It starts with being human first, leader second. Let go of the idea that leadership is about having all the answers.

Instead, create space for curiosity, vulnerability and shared wins. Look for the people who aren’t just skilled, but also care deeply – about the mission, the people and the impact. You’re looking for the ones who lean in when things get hard, who ask the tough questions and hold you accountable with heart. You don’t assign these relationships – you build them, slowly and intentionally, through honest conversations, shared challenges and showing up for each other when it counts.

Sometimes, your other half shows up as the opposite of you – calm to your fire, detail to your big picture. Other times, they’re a mirror, reflecting your best and calling out your blind spots. Either way, the magic lies in mutual investment. Like any meaningful connection, a great working relationship isn’t found, but instead, cultivated.

And when you find that person? Hold onto them. Because in a world that moves fast and often feels fragmented, that kind of partnership is not just powerful – it’s rare. To cultivate your “other half” at work, try the following:

• Lead with curiosity, not control: Be open to different perspectives. Ask questions, listen deeply and create space for real dialogue.
• Look beyond skills and focus on alignment: Find people who share your values, not just your goals. Skills can be taught; shared purpose can’t.
• Invest in trust before task: Relationships aren’t built in meetings – they’re built in moments. A chat over coffee can go further than a strategy session.
• Be willing to show vulnerability: Share the hard days, not just the wins. True connection comes from being real, not just being right.
• Respect your differences: Your best work often comes from tension, rather than sameness. Honour the contrast – it’s part of the creative spark.
• Communicate, even when it’s uncomfortable: Don’t bury the friction. Lean into it with respect and honesty. This is how trust is strengthened.
• Celebrate together and reflect together: Acknowledge the journey, not just the destination. Reflecting on what you’ve navigated builds depth and loyalty.
• Show up consistently: Reliability is rare – and powerful. Be the person someone can count on, and you’ll likely find the same in return.

Building and nurturing a positive relationship takes time and effort – but the rewards in terms of deeper connection and support are well worth it.

Tim Jack Adams is a global speaker and thought leader in human sustainability and performance. This piece is an edited extract from his book, “Energised: The Daily Practice of Connected Leadership and Sustainable Wellbeing”.