The Small Habits That Make Work Better

Most of us spend a large part of our lives at work, yet we often treat relationships there as secondary to performance. But countless studies show that our emotional ties to others shape our health and happiness. If that is true, then the way we interact at work deserves more attention than it gets.

Prosocial behavior is the term researchers use to describe voluntary actions intended to benefit others. Traditionally, it includes things like helping, sharing, cooperating, and showing empathy. In some research, it is even described as going out of your way to assist someone else without regard for yourself. But prosocial behavior doesn't have to be heroic or extreme, it can and should be part of your everyday life.

Build Relational Capital

Try thinking about your workplace relationships like a bank account. Every positive interaction is a deposit. A withdrawal can be intentional, maybe you need to have a difficult conversation, or less intentional, like when you forgot to respond to an email. Just like in real life, a higher balance is the goal.

So how can we build up that account? The deposits do not have to be dramatic, but they need to be consistent. Here are practical ways you can strengthen your relational balance at work.

• Greet someone at the beginning of your day or when you join a meeting by saying hello. We have all been on the receiving end of someone skipping the hello. I do not know about you, but my mind goes straight to “What did I do wrong?”

• Say goodbye at the end of the day instead of just disappearing, even a simple "See you tomorrow" is enough.

• Ask about weekends on Mondays and Fridays with "Do you have any plans?" or "How was your weekend?"

• Resist the urge to share your own experience when someone else is talking, and give yourself an invisible pat on the back for staying focused on them.

• Be positive.

• Follow up after work events like presentations and opportunities. "How did it go?"

• Recognize anniversaries and birthdays.

• Remember personal details like coworkers' children's names and the things that matter to them, and ask "How did your daughter's recital go?" or "How did your baseball team do this weekend?"

• Offer help before being asked.

• Recognize effort and contributions out loud by being specific about what someone did well.

• Credit ideas accurately by naming the person who shared them.

• Clarify before assuming intent, "Can you help me understand...?"

• Check your tone in emails before sending by reading them out loud.

There's no need to check all of these off every day, but I do encourage you to set a goal. Could you commit to three deposits a day? Five?

At the beginning of your day, take a look at your calendar and ask yourself where you can build in a few deposits. Is there someone you could send a quick note to? Can you follow up on how that client meeting went? Is there an opportunity to check in before jumping straight into business?

When you anticipate those moments, connection becomes part of the plan instead of an afterthought.

If you know you will need to have a withdrawal conversation with someone, think ahead about how to handle it best. Consider the timing, your tone, and the existing balance between the two of you.

Making Deposits From a Distance

For those of you saying, “But Kristi, I work remotely. What does this look like for me?” It’s a fair question. Remote work removes the hellos in the hallway and conversations in the breakroom, but here are a few ideas.

Start with your online meetings. Leave a few minutes at the beginning to catch up and say hello before jumping into the agenda.

Turn your camera on during meetings so people can see you are present and prioritizing the conversation.

Next, think about your responsiveness. When someone reaches out, respond within 24 hours so they are not left wondering. Take extra care with your emails since they are often your primary voice.

And sometimes, pick up the phone and call someone. I mean, actually call them. Yes, send a quick message first to make sure they are free, but a real conversation can build a connection faster than a text thread. I love my weekly check-ins with the Post family. We take care of work, but we also take care of one another.

Culture Starts With You

If you are looking for someone else to create the culture, spoiler alert, it is not just those in leadership roles. We are all responsible for contributing to it every day. Every interaction either strengthens or weakens the balance.

That said, prosocial behavior is especially important for leaders. People watch what you prioritize. They notice how you begin meetings, how you respond under pressure, and whether you consistently recognize effort. What you model is what you will see in others.

If you are in a leadership role or want to be, here is a checklist to help prioritize prosocial behavior.

✔ Give out employee awards

✔ Celebrate wins and contributions in newsletters or updates

✔ Call out great work in front of others during meetings

✔ Write messages to show appreciation

✔ Remember work anniversary dates and important milestones

✔ Provide regular check-ins, especially when things are going well

✔ Address behavior that is uncivil instead of ignoring it

If these behaviors are important, schedule them. Put reminders on your calendar.

Don't let connection to be left to chance. The culture you experience each day is shaped in small, ordinary interactions. When you strengthen those, everything else gets better.

If you are ready to be more intentional, download my 30 Day Workplace Reboot Challenge by signing up for our newsletter on the blog page to the right. It gives you a simple structure to build consistent deposits and strengthen connections at work, one day at a time.