How to Build a Good Relationship With Your Principal and Seniors During Articleship

Articleship is not just about learning audit, tax, or compliance work. It is also about learning how to work with people. Your relationship with your principal and seniors can completely change how your articleship experience feels. If the relationship is healthy, you grow faster, learn more, and feel supported. If it is weak or tense, even small tasks can feel stressful.

If you are starting articleship or are already in the middle of it, you might be asking yourself questions like:

• Will my principal even notice my efforts?
• How do I deal with strict or busy seniors?
• What if I make mistakes and look careless?

These thoughts are normal. Almost every articleship student feels this way. The good news is that good relationships are not built by luck. They are built slowly, through daily behaviour, communication, and attitude. This article explains how you can build a strong, respectful, and professional relationship with your principal and seniors in a practical and realistic way.

Why Your Relationship With Principal and Seniors Matters

Before talking about how to build relationships, it is important to understand why they matter so much during articleship.

Your principal decides your exposure, your leave approvals, and often your final articleship experience. Seniors decide your daily learning. They assign work, explain tasks, review your mistakes, and guide you on deadlines. If both trust you, you get better work and better learning.

A good relationship does not mean being a favourite or doing flattery. It means being reliable, honest, respectful, and willing to learn. When your seniors trust you, they teach you more. When your principal trusts you, they give you opportunities.

Articleship is short, but people remember how you behaved. Many students get references, guidance, or career help years later because they built strong relationships during articleship.

Understanding the Mindset of Your Principal

Your principal is not judging you all the time. Most principals are extremely busy. They handle clients, deadlines, staff, compliance, and professional responsibilities.

From their point of view, a “good article” is someone who:

• Does not create unnecessary problems
• Takes responsibility for assigned work
• Tries to learn instead of making excuses
• Respects time and confidentiality
• Shows steady improvement

Your principal does not expect perfection. They expect sincerity and growth. If you understand this mindset, you stop trying to impress and start trying to improve, which naturally builds respect.

Understanding the Mindset of Seniors

Seniors are usually under pressure. They have deadlines, client calls, reviews, and sometimes pressure from the principal as well. They are not always impatient because they dislike you. Often, they are stressed.

From a senior’s point of view, a helpful junior is someone who:

• Listens carefully when work is explained
• Does not repeatedly ask the same basic questions
• Accepts corrections without arguing
• Respects deadlines
• Is honest about progress or delays

When you understand their situation, you stop taking things personally and start focusing on being supportive and professional.

Start With Respectful Communication

The foundation of every good relationship in articleship is communication.

How you speak matters as much as what you speak. Always maintain a respectful tone, even when you are stressed or confused. Simple habits like greeting seniors properly, replying politely, and acknowledging instructions show maturity.

When work is assigned, listen carefully. If you do not understand something, ask clear questions at that moment itself instead of guessing later. Guessing often leads to mistakes that frustrate seniors.

When reporting work, be clear and honest. Instead of saying “I will try,” say “I will complete this by today evening” only if you mean it. Clear communication builds trust over time.

Learn to Listen More Than You Speak

Many articleship conflicts happen not because students are bad, but because they do not listen fully.

When a senior is explaining a task, avoid interrupting. Note down points if required. If instructions are long, repeat them briefly to confirm your understanding. This avoids confusion and shows seriousness.

Listening also applies to feedback. When seniors correct you, your first reaction should not be defensive. Even if the tone feels harsh, focus on the learning. Seniors respect juniors who can take feedback calmly.

Listening makes seniors feel valued and understood. That alone improves relationships significantly.

Be Reliable With Deadlines

Nothing damages relationships faster than missed deadlines without information.

If you commit to finishing work by a certain time, ensure you do it. If you realise midway that you will not be able to meet the deadline, inform your senior early. Seniors prefer early communication over last-minute surprises.

Reliability does not mean working late every day. It means being honest about your capacity. When you regularly deliver what you promise, seniors start trusting you with better assignments.

Trust, once built, makes work smoother and less stressful.

Show Willingness to Learn, Not Just to Finish Work

Articleship is a learning phase, but many students focus only on completing tasks mechanically.

Instead of just asking “what to do,” also try to understand “why it is done.” When seniors see genuine interest, they naturally explain more. This creates a mentor-like relationship instead of just a reporting relationship.

You can show learning intent by reviewing work before submitting it, reading basic material related to assignments, and asking thoughtful questions at the right time.

Your attitude towards learning reflects directly on your commitment, which both seniors and principals value highly.

Take Ownership of Your Mistakes

Mistakes are part of articleship. Even experienced professionals make errors.

What matters is how you handle them. If you make a mistake, accept it calmly. Do not blame workload, confusion, or others unnecessarily. Apologise if required and focus on fixing it.

Seniors lose trust when juniors hide mistakes or give excuses. On the other hand, accepting responsibility actually increases respect. It shows maturity beyond your experience level.

One honest conversation can prevent long-term damage to your professional image.

Maintain Professional Boundaries

While friendliness is good, over-familiarity can create problems.

Avoid gossiping about seniors, office matters, or the principal, even if others are doing it. Word spreads faster than you think, and once trust is broken, it is very difficult to repair.

Maintain professional behaviour even during informal moments. Respect confidentiality. Understand that your seniors are colleagues, not college friends.

Strong boundaries create long-term respect, which matters much more than short-term comfort.

Be Observant and Adapt

Every firm has its own culture. Some principals prefer formal communication, while others are comfortable with informal updates. Some seniors like detailed reporting, while others prefer concise summaries.

Observe how things are done in your firm. Adapt your working style accordingly. This ability to adjust is a critical professional skill that will help you beyond articleship.

Adaptation does not mean losing your values. It means aligning your approach with the workplace environment.

Small Gestures That Make a Big Difference

Sometimes, relationships improve through small but consistent actions.

Acknowledging help, saying thank you, and appreciating guidance goes a long way. When seniors feel appreciated, they are more willing to guide you in the future.

Being punctual, maintaining neat work, keeping files organised, and showing discipline silently build a positive image. These things do not need to be announced; they are noticed automatically.

Consistency in these habits slowly strengthens your professional reputation.

Build a Positive Relationship With Your Principal

You may not interact with your principal daily, but your image reaches them through seniors.

Maintain discipline, follow office rules, and behave professionally. When you interact directly, be respectful and prepared. If you seek guidance, be clear and concise.

Do not approach the principal only for leave or complaints. When appropriate, express gratitude for exposure or learning opportunities. Genuine appreciation leaves a lasting impression.

Principals respect articles who handle responsibility without drama.

Dealing With Difficult Seniors or Situations

Not every senior will be patient or friendly. In such cases, focus on professionalism rather than emotions.

Avoid arguments. Keep communication factual and polite. If instructions are unclear, confirm through simple messages or notes. Document work submission when necessary.

If a situation becomes difficult, seek guidance respectfully through proper channels without creating scenes or negativity.

Handling tough situations calmly is itself a powerful skill that strengthens your professional growth.

Remember: Articleship Is a Training Ground

Articleship trains you not just to become a Chartered Accountant, but to become a professional.

Your relationship with principals and seniors teaches you how workplaces function, how authority works, and how respect is earned. These lessons stay with you long after exams are over.

You do not need to be perfect. You need to be sincere, disciplined, respectful, and consistent. Relationships are built over time, not in a day.

If you focus on learning, responsibility, and communication, good relationships will follow naturally.

Final Thoughts

Building a good relationship with your principal and seniors is one of the most valuable investments you can make during articleship. It reduces stress, increases learning, and opens doors for future opportunities.

Be patient with yourself. Learn from mistakes. Stay humble. Respect people’s time and effort. Over time, your work and attitude will speak for you.

Articleship may feel tough, but strong professional relationships make the journey smoother and far more meaningful.