Are Your Workmates Your Friends?

Mind Business That Pays You- and Go Home.

By Miriam Karanja

Are your workmates your friends is an age-old question that most of us (even after having spent years in the workplace) are still not able to answer.

The workplace, especially in the corporate world has always had a bad rap for being extremely toxic. And therein lies the problem, how can one make (good) friends in a toxic environment?

Given the time we spend at the workplace, which roughly translates to 8 hours a day. Most of us are inclined to believe that the people we spend these hours with are our community, our friends. I mean, it does make it easier to wake up in the morning if you are going into an office with people you are friends with. Being happy in the office makes your work, easier. It makes those 8 hours more bearable and enjoyable if you are chummy, happy-go-lucky with everyone…but at what cost?

Workplace friendships and relationships can make you easily forget why you are there in the first place. The corporate world is cut-throat. We are all there to compete for promotions, salary raises, and recognition.

So how are you my friend, doing the same thing as me, yet you are being paid more than me? Enters, Jealousy.

Workplace friendships also make it very easy to cross boundaries. Thinking of our coworkers as confidants and buddies makes it tempting to over-share stories from our personal lives, talk about each other behind our backs, forget who’s boss, and even slack on our KPI’s just because the Head of Department is someone you drink with over the weekend.

The reality on the ground is, our workmates are NOT our friends. As you do, your FRIENDS you do not choose workmates. You co-exist because you have been brought together by one organization, under one mission: to do your job to the very best of your ability so that the organization can progress and you can get paid. The End.

To thrive as a human being requires that one exists in a community. Cliche but true, no man is an island. That said, the purpose of this post is not to stop you from socializing at the workplace. This article should also not make you difficult to work with just because you are being “cautious”. You should, however, be very intentional about the friendships and relationships that you make at the workplace.

Building and maintaining friendships at work should be 70% to help you with your professional goals and 30% a social exercise.

Should you be able to balance and maintain the two, congratulations. You are doing great.

As you navigate your friendships at the workplace, it is important to note that we all have different personalities. While your intentions might be good, not everyone might have the same intentions.

Always treat everyone as you would want to be treated. With integrity, respect, kindness & humility. You do not need to be best friends with your colleague, but you do need to work together.

Be Professional.