You've Got a Friend in Me
When it comes to making friends within the workplace, there are many precautionary steps to consider. Because friendships are relationships, you must be careful as to what you do and who you spend your time with.One issue I've run into in previous work experiences, is making plans outside of work with fellow employees. While it's safe to say that associating with a superior at the bar is not a good idea, there can be something so comforting about getting after-work drinks with people that are in your department.
Aside from the obvious behaviors you should practice, also keep in mind that your coworkers could be watching your every move-- and gossiping about it at the water cooler come Monday. It's always better to play it safe and keep your drinks to an appropriate count while with other employees.
Finally, I would recommend "hanging out" with coworkers in order to get to know them on a personal level. Dinner is a simple, easy way to catch up about things other than TPS Reports. If you are uneasy, have a glass of wine, not a bottle. Just remember that you can always let your guard down once you've gotten to know the person better... but you can never take back trusting them too soon!
Labels: friendship, professionalism; office etiquette
Posted by Amanda on 5/21/2009 10:25:00 PM
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1 Comments:
Very true Amanda, hanging out with your superior at the local pub is probably not the best idea. Personal and professional friendships are very different and going to the pub with any of your co-workers is probably not advisable. You never want to be the topic of water-cooler conversations. But there is nothing wrong with going out for a casual lunch or dinner. Its important to form friendships with co-workers, it can make the workplace environment much more enjoyable.