How to make friends at work and why they are important
Humans are social by nature. No matter where we go, we crave human interaction. If you ask at work, as well? Yes, having work friends is crucial for your mental health. If you are wondering are work friends really a thing, or if you are of the mind that you don't need to like the people you work with, allow us to change your worldview. Keep reading to learn why work friendships are important and how to build one.
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Why work friendships are so important?
After roti, kapda aur makaan, a sense of belonging is one of the most essential human needs. And since most of us, spend a significant part of our day and our lives at work, it becomes almost necessary for us to work in a healthy environment. A healthy environment does not only pertain to one where we feel physically safe but also one where we are mentally stimulated as well.
Having social support at work will not only result in more job satisfaction because you will be happier, more fulfilled and less stressed but will also help you in the long run because of a better work-life balance. other than the aforementioned reasons, keep reading to learn 3 more benefits of having friends at the workplace, we bet you didn't know.
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1) Improved professional growth
When you become friends with your coworkers you open yourself to a world of knowledge and experience that you otherwise may not have been privy to. Work friends help you to gain more knowledge and expertise while offering valuable suggestions and highlighting areas of potential improvement all at once.
2) Easier conflict resolution
Conflict arises at all workplaces, but if you have a strong support group at work, it becomes easier to engage in an open conversation to resolve those conflicts. When disagreements arise pertaining to work arise between friends they are more likely to effectively come to a solution or a common ground with co-operation than otherwise.
3) Increase in networking opportunities
Networking is one of the most crucial parts of anyone's professional growth, be it within the organisation or outside. When you become friends with your coworkers the chance of you being introduced to professionals who can provide referrals and other important connections to broaden your network increases exponentially.
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How to strengthen work relationships?
While becoming an acquaintance is a fairly easy task when you spend an average of 8 hours a day with the same set of people every day, it is not all just you want to be! To become a friend or have a good bond with your colleagues, you have to make the extra effort. By greeting them daily, having lunch with them, listening and paying attention to them, and helping them in their time of need, you can over time build a strong relationship with your colleagues. While we understand making friends as an adult is hard, but with just a little bit of patience, you can easily build a support system for yourself that will greatly increase your job satisfaction.
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How to make friends in a virtual space?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, working remotely or coming to the office in a limited capacity has become a reality. Unfortunately, when you don't actually meet your coworkers regularly or even at all, it becomes even more difficult and even more necessary to build those relationships. So what to do?
First of all, be proactive. Don't hesitate and reach out to people personally. Whether it's through a mail or a more casual chat message, put yourself out there are say hello! Once you've made the first move you can progress to a video chat, even if you are the other person is not comfortable turning the camera on, starting with just speaking to each other is fine. If you work solo, you can even join virtual meets or events that your company is hosting to meet like-minded people.
Life becomes so much easier, happier and healthier by cultivating strong friendships at work. After all, if we have to work for most of our lives why not put time and effort into making our office a place where we actually look forward to going?
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