As some employees prefer just minding their business by just appearing to work, carry out their tasks, and leave, for fear of crossing boundaries by their co-workers, others have however found amazing friendships from fellow workers. Work without friends can be boring at times. In order to advance your career, you should start socialising with co-workers for the following reasons; Experts say that socialising makes communication easy. When you regularly socialise with your co-workers outside of normal work hours, it will be far easier to communicate with them when the time to actually work on a project arrives. No one wants to work with someone they feel uncomfortable around, and if you don’t know how to talk to your co-workers, it can be difficult to work as a team. Socialising at work helps reinforce workplace relationships. For example, you can talk about topics that are more personal or things happening in everyday life outside of work. This helps people get to know one another on a personal level. You can talk to your manager or co-worker about the latest released season of your favourite series or create a conversation about how your co-worker’s weekend was. For Peace Musiime, an accountant in Kigali, connecting with co-workers is a way to share information and learning from each other. Seeing issues and situations from a dissimilar perspective can make you more aware of individual behaviours, possible corporations, and likely conflicts, and help you become more prepared to handle a wide variety of clients and tasks. “If you have co-workers as friends, there is a possibility of supporting you emotionally. For instance, if you’re stressed or need someone to open up to, they are there to offer you advice, and courage. There is nothing as depressing as passing through a tough situation that no one knows about at your workplace. Although some issues are private, at least opening up to people you are close to can assist in seeking a solution,” Musiime states. She carries on that socialising averts burnout. It’s common to feel bored and tedious at work as you do the same job each and every single day. However, to keep the job interesting and fun, it is advisable to take breaks by having conversations with your colleges about anything work-related or not. At the end of that short discussion, your mind can feel refreshed. Having friends in the workplace can make work a bit more exciting as it is extremely pleasurable, and during tough projects, you will feel more supported and focused. Perhaps, you can also consult your colleagues freely about anything without the fear of being judged for not knowing, Musiime adds. It is believed that, creating a positive environment will help employees feel more comfortable around one another and encourage social connections – quality work relationships help build a strong company culture that emphasises respect, loyalty, and trust. A LinkedIn study of relationships at work found 46 per cent of professionals around the world believe having work friends enhances their overall happiness. Building bonds with others can make us feel more connected, which, in turn, can help boost productivity and engagement. People are more creative and productive when they experience more positive inner work life, including more positive emotions, stronger motivation toward the work itself, and more positive perceptions of the organisation. According to Indeed Career Guide, workplace relationships offer increased satisfaction with your career, increased comfort with presentations and team meetings, improved productivity for all team members, moral support and assistance with meeting difficult timelines, and higher retention rates. “However, even if you are uncertain how to transition co-worker relationships into positive workplace relationships, you can use these steps; understand your strengths and weaknesses, schedule time to develop relationships, ask questions and listen, offer assistance, know when to ask for assistance, appreciate each employee’s role, keep your commitments and be present.”
