Do You Have a BFF at the Office?

Do you have someone you consider a best friend at work?

If you can answer “yes” to this question, chances are you are happy with and effective at your job. The reason is that the conditions for forming deep friendships are the same conditions that make people enjoy working for an organization: an office environment of trust and support, co-workers who are fun to be around, and a workplace where you can feel at home, be yourself, and have the opportunity to form relationships that nourish you.

As I was researching The Career Playbook I was constantly reminded that job satisfaction – one of the legs of the career triangle of money, lifestyle and satisfaction – is the most elusive. Over the last 20 years, Gallup has conducted millions of workplace surveys, covering just about every aspect of professional life. One of their most important findings is that an employee’s job satisfaction is the single biggest determinant of how effective they will be in their role. It is also one of the most important contributors to their happiness inside and outside of work.

So the question of what is the greatest determinant of job satisfaction is critical both for employees and for organizations.

But here’s where the findings are surprising. According to Gallup's research, job satisfaction can be boiled down to a single question, "Do you have someone you consider a best friend at work?"

In a work context, the term, "best friend" can be a bit politically incorrect or peculiar, since it implies exclusivity and a deeply personal relationship. But interestingly, when Gallup changed the word in its research to a "close" or "good" friend, the question lost its predictive power. The key point is, therefore, that when you do, in fact, have a "best friend" at work, you, your friend, and your entire work group are likely to have:

• Received recognition for your/their work recently,
• Colleagues who encourage your/their development,
• A belief that the mission of your company makes your jobs important, and
• The opportunity to do what you/they do best every day.

So take the time to invest in friendships at work. They will pay off in your happiness and in your performance.

I hope you are putting the ideas in these posts into your game right away, and will check out my book, The Career Playbook Essential Advice for Today's Aspiring Young Professional available for pre-order now and shipping on April 21.

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