Encouraging Deep Friendships At Work

Encouraging deep friendships at work: A key to positive mental well-being, reduced attrition, and increased productivity.

A study by the University of Michigan found that employees who have close friends at work are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and less likely to leave the company. As a leader, you have a responsibility to create a positive and supportive work environment for your team. One way to do this is to encourage deep friendships at work. A study by Gallup found that employees who have a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be engaged in their work and three times less likely to look for a new job in the next year. When employees have close friends at work, they are more likely to be happy, engaged, and productive. They are also more likely to stay with the company for the long term.

The benefits of deep friendships at work

Improved mental well-being: Friends can provide support and empathy during difficult times, and they can help us to celebrate our successes. Studies have shown that people with strong social connections are less likely to experience depression and anxiety, and they have a higher overall sense of well-being.

Reduced attrition: Employees with close friends at work are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and less likely to leave the company. A Gallup study found that employees who have a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be engaged in their work and three times less likely to look for a new job in the next year.

Increased productivity: Employees who have friends at work are more likely to collaborate with each other and to share ideas. They are also more likely to be motivated and to go the extra mile. A study by the University of Pennsylvania found that employees who have close friends at work are 7% more productive than those who don’t.

Methods organizations can employ to encourage friendships and a sense of belonging:

Create opportunities for social interaction: This could include organizing team lunches, happy hours, or social events. It is also important to provide employees with time to socialize during the workday. While many people take celebration of festivals lightly in organizations, however, these are the perfect opportunity for people to get to know each other outside of their work desk. 

Encourage employees to get to know each other on a personal level: This could be done through team-building activities or by simply encouraging employees to talk to each other about their interests and hobbies. One of my previous organizations sent a group of 4 employees every week from different teams each on a sponsored coffee get-together. This allowed us to interact with people from other teams and have conversations beyond work. 

Promote a culture of respect and inclusion: Employees should feel comfortable being themselves at work and should feel respected by their colleagues. This will create an environment where friendships can thrive. Every leader leads their team the way they deem best, here is when empathy becomes important and relevant. Creating an environment where people are not afraid to speak their minds and make mistakes is also very crucial to a high functioning team.

Encouraging deep friendships at work is a win-win for everyone involved. Employees benefit from improved mental well-being, reduced stress, and increased productivity. Organizations benefit from reduced attrition and increased employee engagement.