Is it good or not to be friends at work?

Friendship in professional life is great, but it doesn't always work out the way we want it to. Unrealistic expectations, jealousy or competitive situations can lead to conflict. Those who want to have a harmonious relationship both professionally and personally must follow certain rules. According to one study, between 60 and 80% of people are jealous of their coworkers.

The work we spend so much of our time at can be an enjoyable place if we have the right relationships with the colleagues we interact with - and this will have a positive effect on our well-being as well as our productivity. After food and shelter, belonging is a basic human need. That's why people who have friends at work are happier, healthier, more productive and more satisfied with their lives, research has shown.

But problems that arise in the workplace make such a connection difficult in the long run. Maintaining friendships at work can be emotionally draining. Not to mention, leaders must be able to continue to set goals and the hierarchy must be respected. Performance evaluation must be fair. And competition, which is often part of the job, can lead to mistrust and even rejection. Additionally, crossing certain boundaries with co-workers can cause tension, create distractions, and lead to mistakes or mistakes.

That's why workplace friendships are special friendships in every way. Here are some ideas from psychologists to help you manage friendships at work correctly and wisely.

Be careful what you say!

If you're talking about your weekend plans or the movie you saw last night, you're safe, but if you start talking about problems at work or the company's shortcomings, you might be walking into a minefield.

A friend at work may not be as loyal as friends outside your work with whom you do not share professional ambitions. At some point, he may decide to put his professional ambitions above his friendship with you, and if this brings him any financial or professional benefit, there is a risk that he will turn against you. yourself if you became close to this person outside of work. If the answer is no, then be careful. It is enough that there are only good collegial relations between you - that’s all.

Draw some boundaries

Setting boundaries is very important in work relationships. Communication with colleagues is useful, but only as long as it does not affect your work. After a lunch break during which you had a lot of fun, upon returning to work, it is advisable to get serious about your work and bring your projects to a successful completion.

If one of your colleagues is your friend, help him when he needs it, but only after you have finished your work. One more thing: Don't expect a coworker to support ideas he doesn't agree with, just because he's your friend, it can seem difficult to draw the line between friendship and collegiality. But it is important to clearly define it, because this will make your life easier.

In other words: you can be friendly, kind, and understanding, but it's important to be clear about which intimate details you can share with your colleagues and which ones are best kept to yourself.

Project realistic expectations

It's good to know from the very beginning that friendship with a work colleague has a completely different dynamic than friendship with friends from childhood or adolescence, which has different sources. Therefore, it is wiser not to choose a colleague as your most important confidant. After all, your colleagues have a job to do, so it's only natural that this should be their priority. Try not to stretch the rope too much in your relationship—and therefore, your coworker shouldn't either.