There are benefits to fostering workplace connections, as belongingness will always be a fundamental human need. In fact, social connection is the main driver for employee engagement and well-being, according to research by QualtricsXM on workplace belonging.
People often look to their colleagues for a sense of belonging, as co-workers spend eight or more hours together in person or via Zoom calls and Slack channels. Cliques form in the office, while some also have chosen work “wives” and “husbands.”
However, whether you are onsite or working remotely, balancing relationships with co-workers is sometimes like navigating your way through a minefield. You want to like your colleagues and cultivate close relationships, but there is always an underlying sense of competition, one-upmanship and crossing boundaries, which can blow up in your face.
In the workplace, the expression “your co-workers are not your friends” is an advisory warning that you need to always remain vigilant about protecting professional boundaries, while also maintaining mutually beneficial work relationships and building close personal friendships. Toeing this line can be difficult.
Beware Of The Risks Of Getting Too Close
While it’s natural and understandable to form tight-knit bonds with co-workers, it’s crucial to separate between work relationships and personal friendships.
Building social connections at work can be beneficial for morale and productivity, but you must also implement guardrails between professional and personal interactions to keep a positive and healthy work environment.
What Can Go Wrong
Developing friendly relationships with co-workers can potentially backfire in the following ways:
- You could be accused of favoritism in the workplace and subject to gossip.
- By joking around too much, you could create distractions that impact productivity and disrupt the office dynamics.
- Friendships can get murky, especially when vying for the same promotion or raise. If a co-worker who is also a friend gets ahead, it may strain the relationship and create resentment.
- Developing deep friendships at work can potentially expose personal information, secrets or indiscretions that could be used against you if the relationship sours. This vulnerability may give the co-worker leverage over you that could sabotage your career.
- Getting too comfortable with a co-worker can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of jokes or comments, potentially resulting in allegations of aggression or harassment.
- Once a workplace friendship is strained, it becomes an uncomfortable environment for everyone else on the team.
What You Can Do To Set Healthy Boundaries
It’s mission critical to be mindful of the potential risks associated with becoming too close to co-workers. To be proactive, map out a plan to practice balancing professionalism with friendliness, and set clear boundaries. When in the office, it’s essential to prioritize your work-related goals over socialization.
To navigate these challenges, make it clear that you have established certain boundaries with co-workers. Try to avoid oversharing personal information, don’t get involved with office politics and never talk rudely about someone behind their back.
By communicating openly, setting limits on office socialization and addressing issues as they arise, you can maintain a healthy balance between work relationships and personal boundaries.
Source: Forbes
