Work Relationships Are Quietly Running the Show

While Everyone Pretends It’s Just About Deadlines

Work relationships are political.

They’re shaped by:

• Power dynamics
• Communication styles
• Emotional labour that isn’t in your job description
• Micro-trust built over years
• Who brings the snacks
• Who takes the minutes
• Who always notices when someone’s off, and who never asks

It’s not just collaboration.
It’s navigation.
And most people are doing it while pretending it’s just tasks.

Not Just This	But Also This
Task outcomes	Psychological safety
Project efficiency	Belief in shared purpose
Promotion chances	Self-worth, visibility, inclusion
Conflict resolution	Whether people feel brave enough to speak at all
“Team culture”	How people treat themselves when they log off

You’re not just building spreadsheets.
You’re building systems of care, or fear.

• Mutual “I’ve got you” energy, even across departments
• Being able to say “Not today” without drama
• Respect that doesn’t rely on titles
• Quiet advocacy (“I know they didn’t say much, but they’re thinking deeply”)
• Listening that includes pauses
• Inside jokes that don’t exclude
• Conflict handled without punishment
• Celebrations without competitiveness

It’s not about being friends.
It’s about being human, together, professionally.

☐ Passive-aggressive emoji reactions in Teams
☐ Every message reads like a legal deposition
☐ People apologise before speaking, then self-censor
☐ Credit is redistributed invisibly to higher-ups
☐ Feedback is a game of emotional Jenga
☐ No one can say “I need help” without a fear-tax
☐ Someone’s always playing peacemaker, but burning out quietly

Work relationships affect morale more than salary figures.

(Without Losing Boundaries)

“You always notice things I miss. Can we sync up more often?”
“I appreciate how direct you are; it helps me feel clear.”
“I want us to work well together. Can we talk about how we prefer to communicate?”
“Thanks for advocating for me, I noticed, and it mattered.”
“Let’s check in once this wraps up. I want to make sure we both feel heard.”

It’s not about vulnerability explosion.
It’s about strategic tenderness.

Congrats?

You might be:

• Holding everyone’s unspoken concerns
• Asking the real questions
• Protecting morale at the cost of productivity
• Noticing who’s crying in the toilet (but not outing them)
• Translating between departments with empathy tax included

Care is a gift.
It’s also unpaid labour.

Be careful not to give more than you’re replenished.

Work relationships aren’t extra.
They are the work.

You don’t have to be best friends.
But you do deserve:

• Clarity
• Respect
• Care that doesn’t compromise your boundaries
• Room to grow
• A place to be brilliant, confused, and enough, even when the team’s wobbling

If connection feels possible?
Lean toward it, gently.
If it feels exhausting?
Step back, protect your peace, and let professionalism mean presence, not emotional contortion.

You weren’t hired to be perfect.
But maybe, just maybe, work can hold you as the person you are, not just the role you play.

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• Browse Spiralmore collections
• Read our Informal Blog for relaxed insights
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