So many of us spend so much time at work, that it would be nice if we could make some friends there. Unfortunately, some of us are shy, or quiet. Some are awkward and don’t know how to make friends with those people we work with every day. To help with that, below are ten super sensible tips to help you make friends at work.
1 – Talk. If you want to make friends at work, you have to talk to other people. In some instances, this might mean talking about actual work related things, but in other circumstances, it might not. Talking at work is how people get to know each other. If you’re a naturally quiet type, consider digging up some things to talk about in your off hours. If you want people to like you, or at least get to know you, you have to be willing to open up and talk to them.
2 – Listen. Another thing that helps in making friends at work, is to listen. Quite frankly, in the busy world that we all inhabit, a good listener is quite precious. If you are able to listen and to empathize with what other people are saying, you’ll very likely draw people to you. Be wary of people that never return the favor though, or you might wind up being nothing more than a sounding board.
3 – Break the Cliques. No matter where you work, there is bound to be certain cliques or groups of people that hang together and don’t give much attention to anyone else. If you want to make friends at work, you’re generally going to have to figure out how to break into a clique if you want to be a part of a group of friends. If you don’t, you’re likely to wind up on the outside looking in.
4 – Join Groups. Depending on the size of the organization where you work, there exists the possibility that there are groups that you can join. Some places have professional groups, others have less official groups, such as those that go out together to have a smoke break. To make friends at work, you need to identify the various groups, decide which ones might best suit you, and then pursue membership.
5 – Avoid Loners. Virtually every workplace has one or two loners. People who for whatever reason choose to avoid the cliques and groups and sometimes disdain associations with others. While technically it’s true that you could conceivable become friends with a loner, the odds are against it, simply because of the nature of the loner personality. To make friends at work, you’d usually do better connecting with people that are more of the mover-and-shaker type, than those that hide in the shadows.
6 – Break Out of Your Comfort Zone. One the biggest obstacles to finding and making friends at work is the tendency for people to create a comfort zone around themselves and then never leave it. Many times, for example, people start a new job and meet two or three people who they work with directly. They get to know these people but perhaps don’t really make any connections or simply don’t care for them. Then, rather than expanding their sphere of interest to include others that work in the organization, they simply hide amongst the group they already know, and thus kill any possibility of meeting anyone else. If you want to make friends at work, you need to break out of your comfort zone and do things to meet other’s that work in other areas.
7 – “Do” Lunch. One of the most important means for making friends at work is what happens on breaks. Particularly on lunch breaks, if you happen to work nine to five. Lunch is where people talk about their personal lives. It’s where questions are asked and people are brought up to date on what’s going on. You might hear the common phrase about water-cooler talk, but in reality, it’s lunch talk. Try to get yourself invited to go to lunch with others. Or, invite others to go with you. “Doing lunch” is the way it’s done these day and it’s the most critical part of making friends at work.
8 – Volunteer. Whether it’s volunteering for assignments out of your normal area, or for things that happen outside of work but involve co-workers, volunteering can be a very valuable tool in helping you to meet and make friends with others at work. Not only will people appreciate your efforts, and you theirs, but you’ll be part of what will in most cases be, a bonding experience. Something that almost always gives rise to friendships.
9 – Include Others. Another way to make friends at work, is to include others in what it is you are doing. It might be something you are working as a project for work, or it might be something more personal, such as setting up a collection center for toys-tots at Christmas. The point is, don’t feel like you need to go it alone all the time. If you want help, ask for it. If you want interest, share what it is you’re doing. The odd are good that others will notice and talk to you about it. Also, be sure to introduce yourself to new employees. They will be looking to meet new people. Quite often, this is one of the main ways people make friends at work.
10 – Extend Invitations. Finally, one of the things people do to make friends at work, is invite people to do things with them during off hours. You can invited people to a picnic for example, or to come to Happy Hour at a favorite bar. Or, if you’re feeling a connection with someone you might invite them to your home for dinner or a special occasion. There is no rule that says you can’t invite people to do things with you, especially if you happen to get alone well with them in a work environment.
The ten super sensible ideas above on how to make friends at work can be used by most anyone working in any occupation that has more than just a couple of employees. If you are someone that is having difficulty making friends at work, I urge you to give these ideas some thought and then try to apply them at work. Best of luck to you.
