In the business of making friends remotely

Today is International Friendship Day, and what better way to celebrate it than by talking to two best buds here at Belong???

Nitin Pathak (Sales Activation Team Leader in India) and Saxena T. (Knowledge and Process Specialist in Australia) get on like a house on fire, but they live on opposite sides of the world.??

How did they build such a solid friendship having only spoken online? I caught up with them to find out.??

How did you cross paths at work???

While Nitin and Saxena live on opposite sides of the world, their jobs here at Belong are quite closely connected.???

‘I was a newcomer at Belong when I first met Saxena.’, said Nitin. 'Not only was he a massive help to my team and I when we were learning the ropes, he was also a genuinely nice person.’??

‘After getting to talking about our interests and hobbies, we realised we had heaps in common’, Saxena said. ‘Those team meetings during Nitin’s first couple of months here at Belong are what kickstarted our friendship, and we’ve remained mates since.’??

What made the friendship stick???

‘Nitin is a very cool, calm and collected guy.’ says Saxena. ‘He always has a smile on his face, even on days when the going gets tough. I really appreciate his positivity and his encouragement of me both at work and outside of work. I know I can count on him and it’s great to have someone like that at work.’???

'Saxena is one of those people that’s good value and always fun to be around – even if it is virtually. Yes, we've only spoken over video call, but his personality really does shine through.’ says Nitin. ‘Anyone who’s met Saxena knows he has a cracking sense of humour, which really lifts the mood. He's also a super supportive friend.’??

What’s it like having a friendship that’s purely virtual???

Though they’re far away from one another, Nitin and Saxena both agree that distance doesn’t dull the friendship. For them, it’s all about having each other's backs, and that’s something you can do online or in person.??

‘While Nitin works in another country, it often seems like he’s just around the corner.’, says Saxena. ‘That’s one of the great things about a virtual friendship. If you need them, they’re always just a message or a call away.’???

As for Nitin, the same message rings true. ‘You don’t need to be in the same room as someone to know they’ve got your back.’, says Nitin. ‘Whether I need to talk about something work-related or not, I know I can count on Saxena.’??

Why are friendships in the workplace important??

After speaking with Nitin and Saxena, it was clear they’re both incredibly passionate about their roles here at Belong. However, they both agreed that having work friends you can count on sweetens the deal.???

‘It’s all about fitting in some time for social connections.’, says Saxena. ‘Not only does it brighten your day, but I personally find it has a positive impact on work performance, too.’??

‘Having friends at work absolutely makes the workday more enjoyable.’, says Nitin. ‘It also helps create a sense of community and support within the workplace.’??

While Nitin and Saxena are A-OK with their friendship being a virtual one, they both say they can’t wait to meet each other in person one day.???

#InternationalFriendshipDay2023 #ItFeelsGoodToBelong #Flexibility??