Published on: December 3, 2025 at 3:22 pm
Studies demonstrate the importance of relationships at work and out of work, and yet people often miss the mark on finding ways to build them, according to Academy of Management Scholar Kris Byron of Georgia State University.
“Brace yourself for 2026! The new year seems likely to bring more political, economic, and social turbulence,” Byron said.
So what can we be certain about as the new year approaches?
“We can be certain that there will be a lot of uncertainty,” Byron said. “And it’s better to approach uncertainty with others by our side.
“Find ways to connect with others: Reach out to a friend—or better yet, make a new friend,” she said. “Let people see who you are and what you are like and strike up a conversation by asking something about others—ask about their pet, their hobbies, or their family.
“Mutual self-disclosure not only strengthens and deepens relationships, it allows us to survive and even thrive during difficult times.”
Impromptu glimpses into coworkers’ lives—such as a cat bounding or a child sneaking into a Zoom call—can trigger bonds between colleagues.
Similarly, people decorate their offices as a way to convey who they are to others.
“It’s an ice breaker that helps form connections, and interactions go more easily when people have a sense of who they are working with,” Byron said.
Whatever ice breakers and conversation starters you use, make a resolution to form new relationships and strengthen old ones, both inside and outside of the office, in the coming year, she suggested.
