You may spend well over 40 hours a week with your teammates, but how well do you really know them? While you don’t have to be the best of friends with your co-workers, your work environment significantly improves when you build bonds with others.

Positive social interactions at the office have a major impact on your workday, including significantly reducing stress, decreasing staff turnover and improving performance outcomes.

So if there is a teammate you want to connect with, follow these four tips to start forging a positive, trusting relationship:

Ask open-ended questions

Does your teammate have a photo of their pet on their desk? Ask its name! Or if you know they are watching the same TV show as you, get their opinion about the latest episode. Questions like these allow you to get to know your teammates better and can go a long way in building trust and camaraderie.

Take the initiative

If you want to get to know a teammate (or really, anyone) better, you need to be willing to put yourself out there. Start by saying hello and asking about their day. Once you feel more comfortable, you can add an invitation for a quick walk, ask to sit with them at lunch or see if they’d like anything from your next coffee shop run. Chances are, they will be happy you reached out. Who knows? They may even invite you next time!

Look on the bright side

While the occasional gripe session at work is normal, you also don’t want negativity to be the main thing you and your teammates bond over. Complaining at the office has many negative consequences, including rewiring the brain for negativity, building a not-so-great reputation and sharing the same health outcomes as chronic stress. So keep your interactions positive and direct the conversation elsewhere if it gets too moan and groan. 

Don’t forget: a smile goes a long way

This might sound like cheesy advice, but the science doesn’t lie! Something as simple as a smile can help make someone feel better and create an atmosphere of comfort and trust. There are health benefits as well: some studies even say smiling can reduce blood pressure, lower our heart rates and boost our immune system. Not bad for a simple facial expression!

The bottom line: We spend a lot of time with our teammates and it pays to have positive relationships at work. So take the initiative and say hello with a smile!

Keep reading: Team-Building Exercises That Aren’t Cheesy