You spend 40 hours or more at work each week. Here are five tips on how to keep work relationships running smoothly.
We all need girlfriends to celebrate and commiserate with. I don’t have any sisters, so the friends I have are really like sisters to me. We are deeply involved in each other’s lives in each other’s kids’ lives and have remained friends over a long period of time.
One of my best friends I have known since we were in preschool together at age 3. One of my second closest friends I have known for nearly 20 years after meeting at work.
Although a state may have separated us at one point or another, we really remain close in each other’s lives and I think there are some key ways that we have intentionally made this happen.
Related: How to Make (& Keep) Mom Friends
I’ve shared my thought about ways we can empower our daughters. One of the ways is to teach our kids that friends remember things that are important to the friend (like birthdays), keep their work, are kind to others, help others in need and have fun times together.
It’s natural to make friends at work, since we spend upwards of eight hours there every day. Work is a lot more enjoyable when you get along with those you work with.
Some of my closest friendships were formed at work.
These tips were provided by Hey! Vina founder, Olivia Poole.
5 Tips to Keep Work Relationship Running Smoothly
1. Be positive. Avoid negative conversation topics with friends at work – it can fuel a bad attitude in the office that affects everyone.
2. Start the day on a positive note. Send a cute gif to your friend colleagues at the start of the day to just say hey and I’m thinking of you and I believe in you. Cute gifs make literally everyone happy and can smooth over some rough times.
3. Be the change. Talk highly about your friends’ work to your other colleagues. Not only does it make you look good to be associated with people doing well, but it can help your work friends’ lives better and in turn your relationships better.
4. Don’t take things personally. When things are really stressful in life, we’re quick to unconsciously take it out on the people we trust. If your work relationships feel strained and you’re not sure why, try taking a walk with your colleague and see if you can get them to open up about what’s on their minds. It probably has nothing to do with you, and you’ll both feel more relieved at the end.
5. Take some space and diversify your friends group. It’s easy to get caught up in in-office drama if that’s the core of your social life. It’s important to continue to expand your network (we all know the old saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know!”), so use apps like Hey! VINA to meet other working moms or people who share your passions, or try going to a networking event by yourself! While it may feel intimidating, you never know who you’re going to meet!
If you ever feel like you were being left out of group outings or that a friend had moved on from you, read this post.
Hey! Vina was created because founder Olivia Poole found making friends in a new city while working in a male dominated industry difficult. Her work has made her a “friendspert.”
