Friendships in the Workplace: Building Strong Connections Beyond the Cubicle
In today’s fast-paced work environments, where deadlines come quickly, and productivity is paramount, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of the importance of human connection and community. The relationships we cultivate with our colleagues and old friends contribute to my professional satisfaction and success. Now more than ever, fostering friendships in the workplace is not just for one’s comfort – it’s imperative for thriving in an interconnected world.
My job requires a lot of brain space. When I’m at work, I can’t think about anything else but work. I tried to multi-task and be aware of what was happening outside of my workspace, but I could not be involved in anything else but work. While at work, I can’t have any distractions; I have to be laser-focused. It wasn’t always like this. I used to be able to visit with friends during the work day to go to lunch, chat with others within my work team about things other than work, come up with innovative ideas, and walk around the workspace to get my steps in.
Now, I have had to pivot tremendously. I can no longer do the things I used to do, but I’m not too fond of that. The thing about me is that I enjoy community. I enjoy collaboration, and I enjoy gaining knowledge and insight from others. I can’t do that if I’m always at my desk, laser-focused on what I must do. So what can I do about this? I don’t want to end up dull and alone. No, I’m joking, of course, but what can I do to make sure that I don’t lose sight on the community that I have within my workspace and cross-departmentally? To maintain connections with friends at work, I implemented these strategies:
I organize my calendar. I need to decide what is essential, what is no longer relevant, and what can be delegated. I also need to figure out which meetings are no longer necessary and which ones need a different periodicity.
I make time for my friends now. If I want to spend time with folks outside of my office, I schedule it so that folks in my office can see that I’m busy. I plan regular lunch or coffee breaks with my friends at work to catch up and unwind.
I ask my boss what his priorities are. Everything can’t be a priority. This is why there is only one number one.
I look for opportunities to collaborate on projects or tasks with my friends, allowing me to spend time together while being productive. I utilize online collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams to facilitate communication and work on projects with people in other offices.
I attend work events, such as team outings, happy hours, or company parties, to socialize and connect with friends in a more relaxed setting. I keep in touch with my friends outside of work through social media, texting, or phone calls to continue nurturing friendships beyond the workplace.
By actively seeking opportunities to spend time with friends at work and staying connected outside of the office, I can maintain and strengthen friendships despite busy work schedules and other commitments.
