Do You Make Friends at Work?

Many of us make real friends at work, but should you? We know that strong relationships in the workplace are good – they create a sense of belonging, create an atmosphere of cooperation, not to mention how great it is to have someone to talk to when things go wrong – but we rarely discuss possible problems. negatives.

A 2020 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology revealed the “dark side” of “relational” leadership, for example: employees may behave unethically if they believe it benefits the manager they are close to or have “strong relationships” with them. family ties”. . Unethical behavior can also come from the top down, notes Marissa Morrison, vice president of human resources at ZipRecruiter. “You can show favoritism without realizing it,” she says, which can jeopardize your decision making. Particularly strong friendships only between certain colleagues “may also inadvertently create cliques or feelings of exclusivity that make it hard for others to feel included or build connections within the team,” she adds.

Tim Sackett of HRUTech, author of Fixing Talent: An Executive’s Guide to Attracting Talent , admits that it’s “really really hard” to overcome the urge to befriend someone at work that you’re drawn to, so if you want to set firm boundaries, you must decide in advance whether you are comfortable moving from “work friends” to true friendships. And if real friendships do develop, he says, it’s a good idea to “talk” about how to deal with work problems, such as having one of you become the other’s boss, so you can remain professional in case of trouble. big shake.

Morrison’s advice is focused on mindfulness: Recognize the potential for conflict if you get too close with some co-workers and not with others, but also keep in mind that some people don’t seek personal connections at all in the workplace—and they should. not be ostracized for it.

The pandemic has changed a lot in how we work, as evidenced by research and a lot of anecdotal evidence. One study last year found that after years of working remotely, people no longer prioritize friendships at work like they used to. Only 11% of respondents cited relationships with colleagues as the top factor in job satisfaction, making them the least important of other factors such as pay, work-life balance, and job security. A Gallup poll found that only two in 10 American workers strongly agree that they have a best friend in the workplace at all. And what about you? Is friendship at work a good idea or a recipe for drama? How can you set clear boundaries with your colleagues/potential friends? Let us know about it in the comments.