How To Make Friends And Influence Workers

By Annmarie Edwards

It is important for leaders to get to know their workers. Forming a strong social network is vital in building connections within staff. Making friends with staff is part of building a social network that every leader should use. Here are seven tips on making friends and influence workers:

1. Begin with a name. Knowing the names of your workers not only build friends and influence workers but setting the stage for an involved workforce. Using a worker's name in communication shows that you care about the worker. Taking the time in getting to know them goes a long way in building connection.

2. A personal touch goes a long way. Employers can make friends and influence workers by encouraging an open communication policy, making eye contact, and interacting with staff members daily.

3. Show you care. Have an open door policy that encouraged workers to talk to management freely about work related matters. Show you care will help you to build friends and influence workers.

4. Connect by communication. Create connections between management and employees through positive verbal communication. Managers can give inspirational talks and express gratitude for a job well done. By creating positive communication among employees and management, employers will build friends and influence workers.

5. Set Goals. Boost involvement through company goal setting. Management should encourage both short- and long- term goals. For example:

a) Short-term goal: Increase productivity for the next two months.

b) Long-term goal: Build partnerships with other business.

6. Problem Solve: Meet challenges head-on. It is important for leaders to resolve issues as soon as they arise. Procrastinating or "passing the buck" only compounds the problem. To problem solve follow these tips:

a) Gather facts to find out what the problem is.

B) Analyze the facts by asking workers for their opinion in solving the problem.

c) Design a plan of action using your workers in put.

d) Brainstorm solutions with workers.

e) Follow-up with your solutions.

7. Develop effective leadership. Businesses can develop leadership through team building, peer mentoring and coaching among workers. This form of leadership helps businesses to maximize their workers' talents and resources. By doings so, leaders will make friends and influence workers.


Annmarie Edwards is a business growth expert who helps businesses maximize their full growth potential, decrease stress, and improve productivity. To learn more on how you can improve your health, decrease stress, and improve training read her blogs.

Copyrighted © 2008 by Annmarie Edwards