“I’m not here to make friends.” Some people tend to take this reality-show trope to heart whenever they begin a new job — it’s best to keep things professional, right? But, it turns out, having work friends can impact your life for the better. According to a Fast Company article, work friendships could be crucial to our overall happiness in life, citing studies that point out how these close relationships can have a positive impact on engagement and productivity in the work place.
In fact, a great friendship at the office could increase your happiness as much as earning $100,000 more each year would, according to research published in The Atlantic. So basically friendships equal productivity and thousands of dollars worth of joy? Count me in.
“Workplaces that convert their employees’ untenable ties into the durable bonds shared by fast friends will have cultures and communities that are alive and generative—in one word, thriving,” Jessica Amortegui wrote in another article on Fast Company about why your boss should care if you have office friends. “As denizens of these communities, we will be doing something even more powerful than bringing our lives and souls with us to work: We will be sharing them with friends.” But making more work friends doesn’t have to be a drain on your productivity.
Fast Company points out research that shows forming close bonds with colleagues can be accomplished in under 45 minutes. But how?! Skip the small talk, and instead focus conversation on deeper topics that aren’t related to work. Even discussing success with coworkers can motivate others, according to a survey of global workers.
The results, in the long run, could improve collaboration and work flow in your office and more importantly, give you a happier work life.
Cheers to that.
From: Elle UK
