How to make friends at work

This LinkedIn Learning course will teach you quite a bit about evaluating risks. “To have a friend means to share and to listen, to trust and be trusted, to feel safe and supported, and to be there for each other,” wrote Nelly V. Tacheva, who is a founder and CEO. When you work in an office, your first instinct when lunchtime rolls around on a busy day might be to get as far from your colleagues as possible. You spend so much time with them already that you might need some downtime. Many companies have affiliate groups for people of color, women, or LGBTQ employees. They may have clubs for particular interests or work-related committees that focus on specific projects or initiatives within the organization.

  • As we age some people are alone due to higher than normal death rates, but they have cousins on social media so why not connect via writing methods.
  • Eventually the after-work video hangouts stopped, the after-work parties faded away, and the “come hang in a video call while we all work” meetings fell off the calendar.
  • Now, if you feel comfortable introducing yourself to, let’s say, one person a day, then set a stretch goal and introduce yourself to five.
  • With so many different ways for remote workers to stay social in the real world, loneliness will have a very hard time creeping in on your watch.
  • Working from home means you do need to take some extra intentional steps to “get your social on” and have chances to make new contacts and connections.

A how to make friends when you work from home may be an awesome way to transition from office life to life as a remote worker. If you’d rather not deal with that pressure, a coworking space makes a great place to meet other people you already have something in common with (i.e., remote work). Lots of companies have social channels, alumni channels, and community channels on Slack or Microsoft Teams. Join them and don’t be afraid to contribute to or spark a conversation. Just because there’s no seltzer dispenser to gossip around, no cafeteria to gather in, or no office to go to, doesn’t mean you can’t make friends with your colleagues.

Why You Should Make Friends at Work

Maintaining your personal and professional relationships when you’re not in the same building as anyone else requires a level of focus you didn’t have to expend previously. In many offices, friendships are built naturally during lunch, or over dinners grabbed after work. These casual, relaxed times can be crucial for getting to know more about coworkers and finding shared interests and passions. If you live in the same city, you can still make these moments of casual connection happen; you just have to formally create them.

companies

If you’re close enough to meet in real life, you can also plan something like picking up your favorite ice cream flavors and watching a reality show while texting about it. The options are entirely dependent upon the friendship you’re choosing to forge, and there’s no one way to go about making a new friend. It’s entirely possible that you’re spending up to five hours a day on your work’s Slack or Teams chat, but you’re feeling more disconnected than ever. Imagine if you couldn’t drop by a co-worker’s desk during your very first job, or go out for drinks after work with your colleagues.

Time Genius

The caveat is that everyone needs space from work from time to time. You save a ton of money by ditching your commute and not eating out daily. But perhaps there’s room in the budget to add back in a regular stop at a coffee shop. Being a regular in the local community can help you casually build a social network close to home. One of the most commonly reported issues is discovering ways to stay connected.

  • Although children are a handful and can take up a ton of your time, they’re a great way for you to meet other parents.
  • As a new employee, it’s well worth getting to know your colleagues on an individual basis.
  • Joining or creating a group for remote workers who like to travel can help you make new connections and connect with others in your situation and creates built-in networking opportunities.

You can get instant visibility on the onboarding process and give your feedback right on the user-friendly dashboard. This way, you spend less time on processes and more time making friends. Normally, HR will take the initiative to introduce you to your department, and you can introduce yourself from there.

How To Make Friends When You Work From Home

You should also use this time to offer your assistance. Is there a project or task you could help your colleague with? Demonstrating your willingness to work collaboratively and support your team members will build trust and aid in the development of meaningful workplace friendships. I know, actually opening up a bit and talking to people? I wish there were an easier answer, one that let me sit on my ass and let respect and validation come to me without having to actually be vulnerable or stumble through my awkward social anxiety.

coworking spaces

First, you should be able to dictate the type of relationship you have with work. Notice that Shonda had a big smile on her face when someone mentioned the latest episode of “Only Murders in the Building”? Send her a quick message asking what she thought about the cliffhanger ending. If your organization has any clubs, groups, or committees, now’s the time to get involved. “Taking those few extra moments to talk to someone and ask a question or two about something they shared is an opportunity to get to know them better,” says Pizzica.