Friendships in the office can be tricky. When the boundaries are blurred between the professional and the personal, there’s a chance for feelings and team performance to be hurt. But just because there is potential for messy entanglements doesn’t mean you should avoid chatting with your colleagues. In fact, research shows that people who have friends at work have higher levels of productivity, retention, and job satisfaction. So take time to get to know people and forge bonds. You don’t necessarily have to go out for drinks or share tons of personal details. Positive relationships are built on vulnerability, authenticity, and compassion, so emphasize those values in your interactions with your coworkers. And don’t assume it’s going to be easy. All friendships have hard moments. Work friendships just have different ones.
