Taking a breather

I am writing this week to inform my readers that the Corner Office will be temporarily offline for the next few weeks. You may be curious about my whereabouts during this time. Well, I am delighted to share that I will have the privilege of attending the union of one of my dearest friends and her companion, who have been partners for an impressive 23 years. While I won't be discussing leadership matters this week, I started to reflect on the profound potential of friendships and more importantly the importance of having friends in the workplace.

Throughout my life, I have encountered individuals who have come and gone, some of whom I believed to be friends but turned out not to be, while others were friends for a season before our paths diverged. I am grateful for the people in my life, now and in the past who have been my support individually and collectively, my mentors, coaches and friends.

This friend in particular is unique. We have maintained a written correspondence since the tender age of 13, despite having only met once. Since the early days of snail mail we have exchanged snippets of our lives. Astonishingly, we have consistently found the time, at least once a year, to express ourselves on paper and catch up on our respective journeys and life trajectories, although our respective lives 8,000 km apart have unfolded quite differently.

My level of anticipation for this reunion knows no bounds. Although we have met only once before, I confess to a feeling of kinship which I may not have with people I see everyday. If you, too, possess a similar friendship or have a friend of this caliber in your life, I salute you. Such individuals are invaluable, and we should treasure every single moment and every exchange with those fortunate enough to be called friends.

As I embark on this joyous journey and temporarily pause my writings in the Corner Office, I have a question for you: What role do you believe friendships play in creating a positive work environment? I would love for you to share with me your experiences or observations of how workplace friendships have influenced your job satisfaction and overall well-being.

May love, peace, and happiness fill your lives, and I eagerly anticipate reconvening with you on June 25th.