The old adage of never mixing business and pleasure may be smart for some, but there are plenty of perks that come from working with friends. Whether you take a position where a friend is already employed, or you get close with co-workers over time and form bonds, these relationships can improve your work life tremendously.
Good friends (and good jobs) are hard to come by, so if you can kill two birds with one stone (so to speak), you are one of the lucky ones. As long as you keep things professional and know your boundaries, having a buddy in business is a blessing. Here are some reasons why.
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You'll Be More Productive
While some may think working with friends would cause people to goof off more readily, the opposite is true.
According to Coca-Cola Company, "Having a work bestie is one of the strongest predictors of productivity (as per a Gallup poll). Friendships lead to a level of engagement that differentiate highly productive workgroups from mediocre workgroups. There's much less wasted energy and interpersonal obstacles."
Friends want to see friends find success and doing it together is even more meaningful and motivating.
Your Job Satisfaction Will Increase
Finding a satisfactory work-life balance can be tough, so when you get to see people you care about all day long, you'll be happier all around.
As Cuallet puts it, "It is good to feel excitement about going to work, as you want to share a story or experience with your friend, this can make your work seem simpler or less boring, and can help each other in the tasks to be done in their workday."
Coca-Cola Company adds, "We will often put up with a less than desirable job role if we love the people we work with and will want out of a 'dream job' if we don't feel like the people we work with support or accept us."
Additionally, as per Executive Lifestyle, "(Friends) can help each other deal with the inevitable workplace ups and downs in a more measured and positive way."
You'll Have More Trust
If you can't trust your friends, who can you rely on? Working with people who have your best interest at heart makes you feel more secure and stable, allowing you to focus on the big picture.
According to Executive Lifestyle, "Having a genuine friend in the workplace makes individuals more engaged with the job, more productive and more willing to push the envelope, because they know someone has their back. It makes us feel safer to take risks and is really important for boosting confidence and when you're confident that can lead to all sorts of positive work outcomes."
Instant Teamwork
The practice of teamwork is important in nearly any workplace environment, but it can take time to develop that bond and flow. When friends are already part of the picture, teamwork is already built-in.
As Cuallet notes, "Having a friend or group of friends will help you feel part of the team, talk about your problems and successes, foster a positive environment, benefit you individually as well as the company, creating a network of happy employees."
As per Coca-Cola Company, a university study found that, "Friendships outperformed acquaintances on all tasks because they were committed to communicating better while working and gave continuous feedback. Plus, they gave more critical feedback."
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Friendships are workplace-friendly indeed. Pal-up and see progress!
