Unlocking Success: The Underrated Power of Workplace Friendships
Abhijit Bhaduri
Talent Development Expert || Ex-GM Global L&D, Microsoft || Top 10 most sought after evangelist for brands like Adobe & SHRM || Keynote Speaker || 6x Author || LinkedIn Top Voice
Most people do not think that it is a good idea to get too friendly with a colleague. I grew up reading Spy vs Spy in MAD magazine. The white spy and the dark spy are continuously trying to outwit each other. Life has not changed. Yet this is a lost opportunity to create meaning at work. I read Gianpiero Petriglieri article on How to Make Better Friends at Work and thought I share the gems.
"A colleague can't be a friend"
192,000 impressions and 932 votes later, the answer is clear. Colleagues are not friends. One in six respondents felt that their colleagues were not the kind who they would want to be friends with. I would say that reflects more on the culture of the company and not the colleagues. One in five respondents say that it is hard to be friends with someone you compete with.
Compete or collaborate?
People who responded to my poll mirror the reality that other researchers have found. 76% reported that they had difficulty making connections with their work teammates, and 58% described their relationships at work as superficial. <read more >
Friendships blossom where people with similar interests spend time together doing shared tasks. Uncertainty and interdependence forge close bonds.
Friendship lowers the risk of fatal diseases and prolongs life expectancy says the Surgeon General of US.
I feel closest to my friends with whom I went to college. The two years spent in college with friends meant that we worked in groups for our assignments, stayed in the residential complex together. Late night parties, laughter and those life changing friendships all were nurtured in an unhurried manner. They gave me the comfort that I was accepted for who I am - complete with my flaws. These friendships have outlasted our career transitions.
The same closeness can give us the confidence to be ourselves at work. Friends at work can often help us find meaning in the work we do. In a world where team compositions are fluid, it is harder to build deep bonds.
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The magic of travel with colleagues
During the course of my career, I have travelled with colleagues. Getting caught up in snowstorms, flight delays and lost luggage were the greatest bonding moments with colleagues. I saw them as human - beyond the roles they did. When they got calls from their loved ones I saw them as a parent, a spouse or a lover. These are bonds that have survived transitions that life has offered. It changed the way we dealt with each other at work.
Would I recommend building bonds with colleagues? Absolutely yes. We could without more colleagues - but we can never have enough friends.
For further reading and research on the topic, you might find these resources helpful:
For podcasts and videos, consider these:
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8 个月We all have #guru #supporter #boss #leaders #mentors , but to propose any one of our #colleague as a #friend we doublethink all #prosandcons. Abhijit Bhaduri nicely articulated. ??
m e
9 个月Love this
Coaching Business Mentor ?? Skyrocket your coaching business through the power of podcasting ?? Founder & Podcast Host - Let’s talk clarity (87 episodes, 400K+ downloads)
9 个月Building strong relationships beyond work is key to a thriving professional network! ??
Past Life Regression Specialist, Reiki Master, and Inner Child Healer.
9 个月Building strong friendships with colleagues is key to a thriving workplace culture. Great approach! ??
Delivery Manager at L&T Technology Services
9 个月It completely depends on company environment and type of company I have seen little bit junior employees need some reliable buddy who can guide them - as a mentor friend Also many employee needs a shoulder (mainly during bad time to vent the anger against boss or to speak to release the stress) kind of psychological friend. I have seen many boys N girls falling in love after becoming friends and starting family. Many company encourages such 'Tuning' for there benefits. So I'll say this statement is not completely true. In service industry - yes ( due to cut throat competition same level of people treat each others as competitors) .... or even a ' kind of enemy' And due to policies in place (discrimination, gender equality etc. can't openly express) ... but there are many other ways they try there best to create an hostile atmosphere Whether it's India, US UK doesn't matter For senior management it's quite normal, you as a person should be able to face this (the standard statement is 'You see I face more bad atmosphere than you during my early days', but which side he was his boss and only his seniors knows) Bottom line "There is no top line or defined way to measure "! So main topic ... again it depends on company environment