How close should you be with your colleagues?

Office friendships inevitably arise when we spend up to 8 hours at the office every day.

That is actually a good thing. Research shows that having friends at work can increase job satisfaction, productivity, and performance.

However, this relationship is also quite sensitive because it takes place in a place that directly affects money and career.

Psychologist Amy Cooper Hakim says: “You want to be kind, professional, and friendly. But you don’t have to tell everyone at the office about all of your personal secrets and long-term goals and dreams.”

Be careful when talking privately

Psychologist Hakim says competition always exists when it comes to income and employment.

It’s not always possible to have a healthy co-worker relationship – one person supporting and celebrating the other’s success – especially with someone who is highly competitive and ambitious.

Therefore, you should not share too much detail about your personal life, finances or work. They can be used as offensive “weapon”, putting you at a disadvantage in certain situations.

You should actively set boundaries in your work friendships. Instead of trying to get along with your co-workers, simply keep a friendly, open, and professional demeanor.

You can have coffee or lunch with your co-workers, but you don’t have to invite them over to your home or to a family event.

Make friends with your boss

The workplace friendships between leaders and their followers are even more complicated.

“There is a barrier to openness, transparency, and honesty when you associate yourself with someone in a higher or lower position,” says Miriam Kirmayer, psychotherapist and friendship researcher. , To share.

Even if you and your boss have a lot in common, they are still your superiors. Of course, you can still chat with them about non-work related things or hang out after work.

Some jokes, unintentional words at the company can also affect your image with leaders and colleagues. Image: Mikhail Nilov/Pexels.

However, you have to pay more attention to the topics you want to discuss with them. Just a few unintentional words can affect their view of you. Remember that you want your boss to respect you and vice versa.

Easily distracting

Some camaraderie between co-workers can speed up the work process. However, there are also relationships that hinder the progress of completing the work.

Activities such as chatting, playing, or venting can disrupt work, making it difficult to focus on assigned tasks or projects. Therefore, set boundaries, while respecting each other’s work needs.

Influencing the rating

Friendship in the workplace will affect your perspective and evaluation of that person at work, and vice versa.

In many cases, it is the respect, shyness and friendship between the two sides that make you always work in a polite state, yielding, avoiding a straightforward exchange.

Remember this is work and you are at work, not at home, and colleagues are not family or loved ones.

Be yourself

You may feel like you are changing to fit into the company culture and make new friends. However, true friendship, even in the workplace, only forms if you show your true self.

Furthermore, having to pretend to be a different person at work is exhausting and energy-consuming.

On the other hand, when it comes to showing your true personality, it may be difficult for you to get along with some people. But that’s totally fine, as long as you’re happy with your work buddies.

According to Zing