Do you have friends in your workplace?  Or are you one of those people that feels that the professional workplace has no room for friendship?

There are varying philosophies on the idea of friendship at work.  Some feel that there is no place for it in a professional environment and others thinks that everyone should be friends.

What do I think?  I think it depends on what you intend on doing with the friendship.  I will admit, I have been the instigator of the March Madness bracket at the office.  It’s not my fault they play the Thursday and Friday games during work hours.

The last few years, I got a little smarter, I talked the owner into filling out his bracket. Now if I could figure out how to have him win … never mind!

Filling out basketball brackets together will certainly build some comradery between co-workers but there is something much larger at play here.  We simply need friends at work.

Most people spend more time at work then they do at home.  What often happens is that the pressures and stress of our job get to us during the day and then we unload at home.  Bad plan!

I think if we had better relationships with our co-workers, we would be much better managers of the stressful stuff.  How do most people define a friend?  Someone I can talk to that will listen.  Someone I can depend on when I need them.  Someone who will help me out when I am in a jam.  Do these descriptions sound like someone you could use at work every once and a while?

Think about something else.  If you have been at you current job very long, the people you work with know you pretty well.  Do you think that might come in handy?

Here is what I think is important.  Building relationships at work is good.  Building friendships is even better.  The key is to know when it’s appropriate to be a friend or when it should be strictly business.

My advice to owners and managers; encourage the idea friendships in the workplace. This is a support staff for your people.  That being said, make the guidelines clear on what is acceptable and what is not and allow the employees to police themselves unless you see a major issue with time management.  Remember, happy employees are productive employees.

My advice to employees; do not abuse the latitude you have been given.  Your friendship time, whatever that may look like, should have a desired outcome to benefit the company.  Even if that benefit is simply your attitude adjustment.

My advice to everyone; you need people in your corner to support and encourage you. You also need to be that person every once and a while.  Whatever relationships you have at work, make respect and trust a big part of them.  Develop relationships to add value, not to gossip or exclude others.

“Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.”  –  Anthony J.  D’Angelo

I think D’Angelo is right.  I don’t think we can truly enjoy what we do if we don’t enjoy those that we do it with.  You might have the greatest job in the world, but if you don’t get to enjoy with anyone, how satisfied will you be?

Have you ever heard of someone turning down more money to go elsewhere because they liked where they were at?  Sure you have.  I will bet you the reason they stayed was because of the people they were working with.

So as you begin the next work day, consider this question; “If I could work with any group of people, who would they be?”  Just something to think about.

Oh and by the way, if you like working with someone … when was the last time you told them that?  … Thought so!  Might want to add that to your to-do list.

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Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 4/21/13 photo by author