The people you work with are the most important constituents of a workplace and how well you manage working alongside your peers helps your career growth. This becomes even more important where some form of 360-degree feedback is integral to the process for your career growth.

Peers are not only colleagues but an important asset contributing to your and the organization’s success. Sometimes, one could be working in a team where many team members are average performers or have average intelligence.

When you enter your office for the first time in your life, you see various groups of people staring at you, some friendly gazes and others, just confused.

But the gazes intensify once you are promoted to senior levels, and that too, at a young age.

That is what happened to Shaunak, a software engineer working at the Bangalore back office of a USA Bank. He was a high performer and highly intelligent, who mastered the art of building relationships with his manager and skip-manager.

He received two consecutive promotions at a young age. Becoming a manager is a joyful experience certainly, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of them was his seniors becoming his new peer group. Although his promotion was well deserved, it did not go well with the other managers and their relationship with Shaunak turned bitter.

This trouble was reflected poorly in his 360-degree reviews.

So, how did Shaunak manage his relationships with his peers? Let us find out.
– Do not rub them the wrong way

Do not rub peers the wrong way has three key aspects.

– Avoid making them feel inferior in any way through your words or actions.
– Always give them the credit they deserve.
– Avoid talking negatively about anyone behind their backs.

Stealing credit, talking negatively about others and back-biting are the traits that can pose questions to your credibility, reliability, and integrity.

Shaunak makes sure that he never talks negatively about his peers or is disrespectful to them. He does not talk ill about any one in their absence.

– Socialize with your peers
Build relationships with your peers within the workplace and beyond. Always participate in team dinners and events. Seize opportunities to participate in informal get-together.

Shaunak helped his peer Arvind during his house hunt in Bangalore and ensured that he was well-settled in the new flat. Arvind felt that Shaunak was a genuine person everyone could confide in and introduced him to the other peers while putting in a good word for him. Shaunak participated in formal and informal dinners and drinks. He managed to build emotional connections beyond formal office relationships.

A friend in NEED is a friend IN-DEED
– Whenever your peers are in trouble at the workplace, try to help without getting burnt out. Helping someone when there is no recourse will create a lasting impact on your peers.

Ajay had an assignment due on Monday morning. Shaunak completed his work for the week on Thursday and offered to help Ajay on Friday to meet his deadline of delivering the project on Monday, which appeared to be impossible without Shaunak’s help. He helped Ajay complete the assignment within the given deadline. Ajay now did not have to cut a sorry figure with his boss.

In another incident, he covered for his peer Neeraj who missed a deadline as he got food poisoning at the restaurant where Shaunak and Neeraj were having dinner. Shaunak informed his senior about the complete incident and mentioned how Neeraj was genuinely sick and not making excuses.

Learning:
– Peer Relationships Are Crucial: Establishing positive relationships with peers is important for success in the workplace. Peers play a significant role in shaping professional lives and contribute to organizational success.
– Challenges of Peer Management: Managing peers can pose challenges especially if there are tensions or conflicts arising from promotions or changes in roles.

Strategies for Effective Peer Management:

– Avoiding Conflict: It’s important to avoid rubbing peers the wrong way by showing respect, giving credit where it’s due, and refraining from negative behavior like gossiping.
– Building Relationships: Socializing with peers and offering support beyond work-related tasks can foster emotional connections and build trust.
– Supporting Peers: Being there for peers in times of need, covering for them in challenging situations, and creating a positive perception of their performance can strengthen relationships and create a supportive work environment.


Managing relationships with peers is a critical aspect of succeeding in the workplace. As demonstrated through Shaunak’s experiences, effective peer management involves showing respect, offering support, and building trust among colleagues. Investing in peer relationships contributes to personal growth and career advancement.

Stay tuned for more such articles! Keep learning and keep performing!