In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to overlook the potential for meaningful connections right under our noses. Our workplaces, most times seen as places of professional growth and productivity, can also blossom into fertile grounds for genuine friendships. While the idea of forging friendships at work might seem unconventional, it’s a concept that’s gaining traction, backed by compelling evidence and real-world success stories.
The average person spends 81, 396 hours at work and is now more likely to make friends at work than any other way — including at school, in their neighborhood, at their place of worship, or even through existing friends. Work friendships aren’t just about camaraderie and shared lunches; they can hold potentials of significantly impacting and enriching our professional lives. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Minnesota prove that work friendships increase productivity and job satisfaction and here’s why — friends are more committed, communicate better and encourage each other. Having a work friend who fits into these 3 qualities will largely improve the quality of your work and the results you produce.
While this is true, the benefits extend even beyond productivity to positively impacting our overall well-being. More research conducted in Japan, Spain, Germany and some other countries reveal that work friendships can reduce burnout, stress, and the effects of traumatic experiences, contributing to improved mental health. In a world grappling with adult and workplace loneliness, work relationships can play a vital role in combating its negative medical and social consequences.
Beyond recent research, history is replete with examples of iconic duos whose work friendships propelled them to remarkable heights — Monet and Renoir, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, John Lennon and Paul McCartney…and the list goes on. The most interesting part is that the impact of work friendships isn’t limited just to history. Google’s success can be attributed in part to the deep bond between Jeff Dean and Sanjay Ghemawat, Google’s first and only Level 11 Engineers. Their work relationship has been described as the ‘friendship that made Google huge’ seeing that their complementary skills and mutual respect fostered a dynamic that propelled Google’s innovation.
Similarly, Paystack’s success hinges on the strong work relationships within the company. These connections have fostered a culture of collaboration, trust, and mutual support, driving the company’s growth and achievements.
How can you build one?
Like any relationship, work friendships require effort and dedication. To cultivate these connections, consider doing these:
- Be approachable: Engage in conversations, offer help, and show genuine interest in your colleagues’ lives. Good with design and your colleague needs an extra eye on his/her presentation? Offer to help, provide genuine and thoughtful feedback. You want to intentionally build friendship with that smart, amazing and warm colleague? Begin with you. Be approachable. Smile. Sincerely share your thoughts and opinions when required, maximize avenues for conversations and engagement. This can go a long way in kickstarting the beginning of an amazing relationship.
- Actively listen: When there’s a problem or bottleneck, give attention to your teammates’ issues. Do not be quick to dismiss whatever it is; give your undivided attention, ask thoughtful questions, and validate their experiences. You can go a step further to actively finding solutions alongside with them.
- Be reliable: Show up for your friends, be honest, and keep your commitments. Say for example, you promise to help your team member figure out the content plan for the week after work hours? Try to keep to your word and show up with a ‘lets-get-it-done’ mindset. As trivial as this may seem, these are qualities that great relationships are built on.
As we approach 2024, you should consider expanding your friendship circles to include your colleagues. Work friendships can not only enhance your professional lives but also enrich overall well-being. Intentionally create amazing relationships with your colleagues, embrace the potentials it carries, and who knows, you might just discover a friendship that makes all the difference in your career.
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