CERTAIN FRIENDSHIPS BOOST
Jan 26, 2010
OFFICE TALK<br><br>You spend most of your day at work. It is only natural that you will make friends there.
OFFICE TALK
By Arthur Baguma
You spend most of your day at work. It is only natural that you will make friends there.
And apart from the social benefits, making friends at work could push your productivity a step further.
Research shows that developing close friendships at work boosts employee satisfaction by almost 50%. And while we do not always choose our friends with career success in mind, there are some people in the workplace whose friendship can actually help us perform better on the job.
Career experts advise that in any organisation, there are five types of colleagues you need to keep close to go about your work with ease:
The IT manager
When your computer freezes, your emails disappear, or you cannot remember your password, there is only one person to turn to: the IT manager. Between making sure your computer will not crash just before a big deadline, this is someone whose good side you definitely want to stay on.
And this means more than just smiling when you ask them for help. Be friendly even when you are not having a crisis with your computer. Strike up conversations in the kitchen and corridors when you meet them. Be their friend and when the company orders a new and latest model of laptops — and they get to choose who gets it — you will be at the top of the list.
The Veteran
Chances are there is someone at your company who has been there longer than you. She or he knows the processes inside out. She was there when the company still offered free snacks. That is your go-to person for any question you have that you would rather not ask your supervisor.
But beware — all veterans were not created equal. Some are more willing to help than others and it will take patience and time to pinpoint your match. The veteran you want to make friends with is the one who has been most welcoming since you first started work; the one who is patient and has always been comfortable answering your questions.
The cross-department crony
No matter how much you love your job; there are always things you need to vent about. And while it is helpful to talk to others who share your job function — and therefore your specific grievances — sometimes this kind of relationship can be dangerous territory. You might end up feeding off of one another’s negativity or reinforcing their biased opinion. And what happens when one of you gets promoted?
A safer shoulder to cry on is one that belongs to someone who works in an entirely different department. He may be able to give you a more objective perspective on your situation than someone who is deep in it with you. He is far enough removed from the situation and most importantly, your own boss. He may confess to you his frustrations with his own crazy department, which will make you feel better about yours.
Front desk manager/ administrative assistants
She plans company outings and makes reservations for your business trips. She makes sure the whole organisation stays afloat. Don’t you want to stay afloat with it? Get your office manager’s good side and, hopefully, she will look out for you where she can. The secret is most office managers get a little tired of being ignored. Often, people only talk to her when they need something. Be a better friend than that! Go to lunch with her. Make her job easier. Get to know your office manager above and beyond what she can do for you, and who knows where you will end up.
Your work bestfriend
Your bestfriend is the person who you are absolutely closest to and, unlike the other friends on this list; you will probably spend a significant amount of time with him after work. This type of closeness can be great for your productivity, your stress level and your overall happiness — but it can also be dangerous if you have a falling out. Work hard to nurture this friendship, but be prepared for the consequences, if for some reason, it goes awry. According to Vital Friends author Tom Rath, people who have a “best friend†at the office are seven times more likely to be engaged in their work.
By Arthur Baguma
You spend most of your day at work. It is only natural that you will make friends there.
And apart from the social benefits, making friends at work could push your productivity a step further.
Research shows that developing close friendships at work boosts employee satisfaction by almost 50%. And while we do not always choose our friends with career success in mind, there are some people in the workplace whose friendship can actually help us perform better on the job.
Career experts advise that in any organisation, there are five types of colleagues you need to keep close to go about your work with ease:
The IT manager
When your computer freezes, your emails disappear, or you cannot remember your password, there is only one person to turn to: the IT manager. Between making sure your computer will not crash just before a big deadline, this is someone whose good side you definitely want to stay on.
And this means more than just smiling when you ask them for help. Be friendly even when you are not having a crisis with your computer. Strike up conversations in the kitchen and corridors when you meet them. Be their friend and when the company orders a new and latest model of laptops — and they get to choose who gets it — you will be at the top of the list.
The Veteran
Chances are there is someone at your company who has been there longer than you. She or he knows the processes inside out. She was there when the company still offered free snacks. That is your go-to person for any question you have that you would rather not ask your supervisor.
But beware — all veterans were not created equal. Some are more willing to help than others and it will take patience and time to pinpoint your match. The veteran you want to make friends with is the one who has been most welcoming since you first started work; the one who is patient and has always been comfortable answering your questions.
The cross-department crony
No matter how much you love your job; there are always things you need to vent about. And while it is helpful to talk to others who share your job function — and therefore your specific grievances — sometimes this kind of relationship can be dangerous territory. You might end up feeding off of one another’s negativity or reinforcing their biased opinion. And what happens when one of you gets promoted?
A safer shoulder to cry on is one that belongs to someone who works in an entirely different department. He may be able to give you a more objective perspective on your situation than someone who is deep in it with you. He is far enough removed from the situation and most importantly, your own boss. He may confess to you his frustrations with his own crazy department, which will make you feel better about yours.
Front desk manager/ administrative assistants
She plans company outings and makes reservations for your business trips. She makes sure the whole organisation stays afloat. Don’t you want to stay afloat with it? Get your office manager’s good side and, hopefully, she will look out for you where she can. The secret is most office managers get a little tired of being ignored. Often, people only talk to her when they need something. Be a better friend than that! Go to lunch with her. Make her job easier. Get to know your office manager above and beyond what she can do for you, and who knows where you will end up.
Your work bestfriend
Your bestfriend is the person who you are absolutely closest to and, unlike the other friends on this list; you will probably spend a significant amount of time with him after work. This type of closeness can be great for your productivity, your stress level and your overall happiness — but it can also be dangerous if you have a falling out. Work hard to nurture this friendship, but be prepared for the consequences, if for some reason, it goes awry. According to Vital Friends author Tom Rath, people who have a “best friend†at the office are seven times more likely to be engaged in their work.