Friendships at the workplace plays an important role in your professional experience. A good friend at a work space will provide you with a positive experience and job satisfaction.
Having recently joined the corporate world, I can say that developing friendships at the workplace can be quite beneficial for you, both personally and professionally. In this blog we will understand the importance of friendships in the workplace, the benefits of having them, and how they shape you professionally.
Importance Of Friendships In A Workplace
1) Helps With Navigating New Environments
When you join a new workspace, you have a difficult time navigating the environment and understanding the workflow. In such situations, friendships at the workplace can be highly beneficial as your friends can help you understand the workflow, and the work culture, and help you adjust to the new environment.
Having friends at the workplace who allow you to adjust, and make you feel comfortable, and welcome, increase satisfaction and happiness.
2) Increases Motivation
The increase in satisfaction and happiness at the workplace is directly proportional to your motivation. When you feel happy and satisfied, you feel motivated to give your best effort and work efficiently.
3) Enhances Job Performance
In the workplace, your relationship with other employees can affect your job performance. When you are comfortable with your coworkers you don’t fear asking questions or getting doubts cleared, this helps in growth and learning.
Nonetheless, if you get overly comfortable with them, it may also negatively impact your performance as you may not take your work seriously. Hence, you must set certain boundaries even with friends at the workplace.
Also read: How to Set Boundaries With Work Friends (and Why You Should)
4) Enhances Job Loyalty
When you enjoy the space you are working in, you find it hard to leave. Moreover, when you create good relationships with your coworkers, it makes you more emotionally attached to the workspace which results in increased loyalty towards the company.
5) Enhances Positive Work Environment
Having a good bond with your co-workers helps to build a positive work environment. This allows everyone to be collaborative, supportive, and helpful. Moreover, it helps increase teamwork. Thus, creating a healthy and positive work environment.
How Friendships At The Workplace Shape You Professionally?
Now that we understand the importance of having friends at the workplace, let’s look at how friendships at the workplace can shape you professionally.
1) Increases Job Satisfaction
As we discussed above, when you have a good relationship with your coworkers, it creates a positive environment and this increases job satisfaction. Having job satisfaction is highly important as it affects your productivity. Moreover, it makes you feel happy with where you are in your career currently.
2) Increases Productivity
With friendly co-workers, you can collaborate, assign, and delegate tasks in an efficient manner which increases productivity. Moreover, when you work in a healthy work environment, they increase job satisfaction and increase your productivity at work.
3) Enhances Collaboration & Teamwork
When you are close to your colleagues, it improves teamwork as you have mutual understanding amongst each other. Additionally, it also improves teamwork as there are minimal chances of disputes or disagreements.
4) Improves Communication
Many organisations promote friendships in the workplace as an important part of friendship is communication. Communicating with a friend is easier than with someone you do not know. This is because you have mutual respect and understanding.
When you have good communication with your co-workers, it helps to easily resolve conflicts and also assists with problem-solving.
5) Enhances Skill Development
Having a good relationship with your colleagues is beneficial as you can learn a lot from them. When you are collaborative with your friends, you exchange knowledge and this allows you to learn and grow both personally and professionally.
You may also like reading: How to Make Friends As An Introvert & 4 Different Stages Of Friendship
Benefits of Having A Best Friend At Work
1) Provides Emotional Support
At times when work pressure increases and your day gets hectic, it can be hard to manage. In such situations, your school, college, or neighbourhood friends may not empathise with you the way a work bestie can.
Your work friends have a better understanding of the situation you are in, and they can help you accordingly. This allows you to have support during difficult times.
2) Feeling Of Belongingness
On average, a person spends 40 hours a week at work. Imagine giving so much time at a place where you feel like an outsider. You will tend to feel isolated and lonely. However, if you have good friends at your workplace, you will feel like you belong which will result in a positive attitude towards your work and your day.
3) Reduces Stress
Friends can turn your frown upside down. Similarly, if you are having a stressful day, you can talk about it with your colleagues and they will understand and empathise with you.
When you have a good friend who hears your problems, you feel relieved because sharing your emotions helps lighten the burden thus helping you minimise stress.
4) Conflict Resolution
Handling conflicts in your personal life is different than handling them in your professional life. In your personal life, you can distance yourself from your friends. However, in a professional environment, you need to collaborate with your colleagues in spite of disputes and disagreements. This can easily be done when you know your colleagues well and have a strong understanding with them.
5) Networking Opportunities
Your work friends can introduce you to people they may know, and it allows you to network with them. Networking opens opportunities for career growth which will be beneficial for your professional growth.
Related read: Understanding The Boundary Between Friends And Colleagues At The Workplace
Conclusion
Friendships at the workplace are quite underrated. Making friends at work allows you to grow both personally and professionally.
Making friends at work is important as it helps you navigate through a new environment, motivates you to work better, enhances job performance and loyalty. Additionally, friends at work help reduce stress, create networking opportunities, provide emotional support, and much more.
If you are joining a new workspace, make sure to introduce yourself to your colleagues and get to know them well. This will allow you to avail all the benefits of having a best friend at work!