Should you make friends at work? How to make friends working from home? How to make new friends at work?
You might have these dilemmas every time you attend office. While workplace friendships make you happier and more connected to your peers, you must know where to draw the lines.
You should learn how to make friends at work by respecting personal boundaries. Most importantly, refrain from asking sensitive questions. At the same time, being open about exciting aspects of your life brings you closer to your coworkers.
In this blog, let us see why you should make friends at work and the best way to nurture friendships with your coworkers.
Let us begin!
Benefits of Making Friends At Work
Making friends at work benefits enhanced work productivity, better interpersonal relationships, and greater career growth prospects.
Better Interpersonal Relationships
When you start talking to your coworkers, you feel relaxed and stress-free. Probably, you can find common areas of interest like traveling, writing, reading, etc. In this way, occasional chatter with your peers is the best way to break your work routine and rejuvenate.
Enhances Productivity
When you have good friends at work, you can learn more through constructive discussions. For example, one of your seniors can teach you shortcuts to complete a task quickly. Hence, by applying this technique, you can work faster and increase your productivity.
Improves Career Growth Prospects
Making friends at work is one of the best ways to boost your career. You can spend extra time with them learning skills, courses, sharing ebooks, or attending technical events. These activities make you more knowledgeable and enhance your career growth prospects.
Means to Enhance Your Communication Skills
Making friends at work means more interaction with your coworkers. This interaction can automatically boost your communication skills. You become more articulate in putting forth your ideas in front of your managers. In this way, you can be more confident and boost your self-esteem.
In the next section, let us understand in depth how to become friends with coworkers.
How to Make Friends at Work: Top 7 Tips
You can make friends at work using many methods like initiating new conversations, using break hours, voluntarily helping people, and genuinely appreciating your colleagues.
Let us discuss all these methods in detail.
1. Initiate New Conversations
Initiating a conversation is the beginning of friendships at the workplace. For example, you can voluntarily introduce yourself to people sitting next to you. Ask their name, residence, and work designations.
These details are close to every person, and they would be forthcoming to share them with you. In turn, be open in sharing your life, and you can build a strong relationship at workplace.
2. Use Break Hours
How to start a conversation with a coworker?
Use the break hours like a lunch break or coffee breaks to spark a conversation. For example, you can go for a walk outside the office campus while discussing ideas. Or, you can take your colleague out for lunch. Lunch break is an excellent time to discuss your culinary tastes or hobbies.
With shared interests, you can deepen your relationship with your peers.
Recommended Read: 10 Virtual Happy Hours Games on Zoom in 2021
3. Take Part in Hobby Clubs
Most companies have hobby clubs for book reading, music, writing, etc. Ensure that you connect with like-minded people in these hobby clubs. For example, you can collaborate for a book reading session or musical show.
Thus, the hobby club gives you a relaxed atmosphere to connect with your coworkers.
4. Go for Company Sponsored Vacations
Vacations help you take a break from your routine work and interact with your coworker in a relaxed way. Hence, always opt-in for group holidays as it is one of the best ways to know your peers better.
5. Always Greet People
Making friends at work means greeting them daily to keep the relationship going strong. Early morning is the best time to greet your coworkers with a ‘good morning.’ Also, ensure that you smile and maintain a positive attitude. Positive people find it easy to sustain workplace friendships.
6. Voluntarily Help People
How to make friends at a new job when you don’t have anything to talk about?
Don’t worry; you can help people voluntarily and solve their problems to strike impromptu conversations. It can be as simple as lending a pen to teaching your coworker the basics of the software.
Usually, everyone likes helpful peers. With a generous nature, you show that you are approachable anytime.
7. Encourage and Appreciate Your Colleagues
Everyone loves to be appreciated for their excellent work, looks, clothing, or culinary skills. So, take a moment to appreciate your coworkers genuinely. Ensure that it does not sound like flattery.
When you see the good in people, you invite good friendships into your life. Your coworkers will, in turn, appreciate you, thereby boosting your morale.
Final Thoughts: Making Friends at Work is an Art
How to make friends at work is a question that lingers in the mind of every worker. Good friends can cheer up your mood, enhance productivity, and boost your career prospects.
Making friends at work is possible through various ways like using break hours to start conversations, voluntarily helping people, and appreciating your coworkers. Be someone who lights up others’ lives by being a genuine workplace friend.
