Again with getting too comfortable…this time at work

Yesterday I shared the concept of getting to comfortable in relationships- particularly with physical appearance. But there are definitely other arenas where us YBPs tend to get comfortable. One place of utmost importance is the workplace. It’s one thing to slip up at home with your mate, but at the workplace the stakes are a little higher. This is your livelihood we are talking about. This is not to say you shouldn’t get close to your coworkers or even nurture friendships if you get along well. Just remember that, especially at work, people are ultimately looking out for themselves, so set some boundaries in the office.

So what role should friendship play in the workplace? Is it smarter to keep your personal and professional lives separate or to purposely seek out and cultivate friendships on the job?

The Pros and Cons
Dr. Jan Yager, author of Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our Lives, has found that workplace friendships can have a profound effect on your career. A friend on the job can let you in on the inner workings of your company or field, provide feedback on your performance or act as a sounding board. Having a buddy at work can make a job more enjoyable, even enhancing your creativity and productivity. Many people get new jobs as a result of friendships, and companies often promote programs that reward employees for referring their friends for employment.

When workplace friendships go awry, however, the impact can be costly. Too much socializing impedes productivity; personal or professional information can be revealed to inappropriate people; and cliques may form, leading to favoritism, exclusivity and negativity.

Befriending the Boss
Can, or should, bosses and subordinates be friends? “Same-level friendships are the easiest to maintain,” Yager says. “Problems can arise if one friend has to supervise or evaluate the other.” If you try to befriend the boss, your coworkers might question your motives. If your boss befriends you, he may be accused of having a favorite.

When Friendships Fizzle
Workplace friendships are great, but they can burn out quickly, too. If you leave a department or change positions, the similar circumstances that originally brought you together are now gone, and so is the friendship. There could also be hard feelings involved if the new position is a promotion that both of you were going for. Remember our article on Healthy Competition- you never know which one of your coworkers is trying to keep their friends close and their enemies closer. Just be sure to watch your back without being paranoid. Check out this article on how to handle a sabotaging coworker.