How To Make Friends And Build Great Relationships At Work

Summary

Because working from home seems to be the new normal, many people report their relationships with colleagues have deteriorated or become more distant. Friendship and belonging are fundamental human needs, and work is the primary place you make and maintain friendships. There are three reasons for this:

You spend a lot of time at work.

You tend to work with people who have similar interests or styles.

Work tends to drive meaningful interaction, providing a basis for friendship.

Great friendships are made up of emotional support, caring for others, and feeling trusted and secure. So how can you build great relationships with colleagues?

Accept others. When you accept the flaws of those around you, you’ll have more robust and more satisfying relationships overall.

Be Trusting and Trustworthy. Trust is reciprocal, so the more you trust others and demonstrate trustworthiness, the better the relationship tends to get.

Emphasize Commonalities. Even when there are differences between you and your co-workers, try to emphasize common goals and shared interests.

Grow together. Another element of great relationships is when people support each other’s goals for growth and development. 

Share Power. A fundamental human need is the reality and perception of fairness. 

Friendships at work can be one of the most significant rewards that we can get from our jobs. Of course, pay, benefits, and the opportunity to contribute to something meaningful are also part of the work equation, but feeling connected is a primary element of happiness.

References

Recent Runway Posts related to this topic:

An introvert's guide to social burnout | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)

Why everyone’s favourite personality test is BS | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)

How to avoid catching prickly emotions from other people | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)

Communication is Key to Resolving Conflict | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)

References from the Web:

Jan 2021 What Does It Take to Build a Culture of Belonging?—HBR

Jan 2022 Missing Your People: Why Belonging Is So Important And How To Create It—Forbes

Jan 2022 Your Sense of Belonging in Modern Times—Psychology Today

Source Information: Forbes:

Article Source: Forbes

Media Check: Forbes - Media Bias/Fact Check (mediabiasfactcheck.com)

Learning Outcomes:  RUNWAY TOPICS: LEARNING OUTCOMES | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)