They also create a supportive, encouraging work environment that fosters collaboration. They grow and evolve over time as you get to know each other. Even if you want a work bestie right now, focus more on being authentic and letting the relationships develop naturally. Trying to force a friendship can push the other person away or come off as disingenuous. These remote-work roadblocks may seem impossible to overcome, but the tips that follow relate to making friends in both in-person offices and virtual-work environments.
Just because there’s no seltzer dispenser to gossip around, no cafeteria to gather in, or no office to go to, doesn’t mean you can’t make friends with your colleagues. There are lots of things you can do to get to know them whether they’re a county, a country, or an ocean away. That’s hard to recreate in a video chat, but making those connections isn’t impossible.
Join or Initiate Virtual Coffee Sessions and Cocktails
If you’re all remote, just extend your ice cream-eating and TV-watching into a group chat form, and see if you all click. Once you’ve made two or three emerging work friendships, it’s time to move on to step four. Whether you’re one of the people who’s started a new job over the pandemic or you’re just someone with a few new teammates, this is especially why making friends at work is so important.
Marisa Franco, Ph.D., was previously a professor at Georgia State University, where she became an academic expert on friendship. She currently works as a policy fellow at Millenium Challenge Corporation. Many more have friends at work who are not “best” friends but are still friends.
Tips on How to Make New Friends When You Work From Home
You can start by talking to your co-workers, joining a social media group for people in your area, or attending events that are related to your interests. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even start your own company or group. Whatever you do, don’t let social distancing prevent https://remotemode.net/ you from meeting new people and making new friends. One of the best ways to make friends at work is to be proactive and start conversations with your colleagues. For example, ask them about their weekend plans, or strike up a discussion about something you read in the news.
If you are looking to go back to school or are just looking to learn something new and exciting, then this can be a great way to meet new people. When it comes to switching up your workspace, some of the best spaces are https://remotemode.net/blog/tips-on-how-to-make-friends-when-you-work-from-home/ the ones that you probably already frequent. For example, try taking your laptop and working from a coffee shop instead. If you want to work during lunch hour, then a bistro would be another great place to go to.