How to Make Friends at Work and Build Meaningful Relationships

A working adult life means little to no time for socializing—outside of work.

Between work, household chores, various commitments, and many more responsibilities—there’s hardly any time or energy to approach a person we find interesting, strike up a conversation, bond over mutual interests, and develop a friendship.

However, there’s a place where you can easily make new friends—your workplace.

A study by the Survey Center on American Life discovered that people are more likely to make friends at work than at any other place! After all, we spend a good part of our adult lives at work.

So, whether you’re starting a new job or looking to join pre-established groups, here’s your guide on how to make friends at work.

Workplace ABCs (Allies, Buddies, and Colleagues): A Guide on How to Make Friends at Work

The Importance of Work Friends

Work friendships don’t get enough credit. A recent Gallup research discovered how having a best friend at work is closely linked to higher productivity, improved morale, increased job satisfaction, and positive business outcomes. That’s not all; there’s a body of research proving the benefits of making friends at work.

Here are a few pointers that make our case on why work friends matter:

Emotional support: Work friends have a deeper understanding of the work culture and your professional goals and struggles. They can empathize and offer emotional support and encouragement during tough times at work. These words of affirmation boost morale and alleviate stress to help individuals overcome setbacks
Collaborative action: Being on friendly terms with colleagues builds team trust and transparency. Liking and trusting each other helps team members collaborate and work together more effectively.
Sense of belonging: Work friendships instill a sense of camaraderie. This sense of belonging at the workplace creates a positive work environment where employees feel involved and valued instead of feeling like a cog in the wheel
Meaningful communication: Strong relationships at work cultivate open and honest communication. This prevents confusion and misunderstandings and improves teamwork. Even if the team were to face some kind of conflict, they’ll find it easier to hash things out and bounce back quickly

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Mental well-being: Whether venting about traffic or sharing an inside joke, your work friend is an oasis of relief between meetings, work pressure, and mounting deadlines. They promote mental well-being by reducing stress and boosting resilience
Higher productivity: A positive work environment boosts motivation and productivity as employees feel more invested in their work. Such high engagement levels encourage teams and individuals to bring their A-game
Job satisfaction: Having a friend at work makes your workday more pleasant. The blend of emotional support and a sense of belonging enhances job satisfaction levels and makes you look forward to being at work
Professional growth: Having a co-worker as a friend catalyzes professional growth as they offer mentorship, valuable feedback, and even career advice. They may also serve as a valuable connection within the organization, offering you exposure to new projects, opportunities, and networks

How to Make Friends at Work: 11 Simple Tips and Tricks

Here are a few easy ways for you to strike up workplace friendships (and sustain them):

1. Engage in small talk and break the ice

Never underestimate the power of a ‘Hi, how are you?’

To make friends at the workplace, be prepared to put yourself out there and connect with people. Introduce yourself, ask people about themselves, and indulge in the occasional chit-chat.

If you’re new, stick to work-related questions first, such as how long someone’s worked at the organization, what they like about working there, their career path, and so on. After breaking the ice, you can slowly ease into the more personal stuff like hobbies and interests, music tastes, or weekend plans.

Such simple exchanges can pave the way for deeper and more meaningful conversations. Do remember that conversation is a two-way street. If someone does not wish to divulge information voluntarily or finds small talk awkward, let them be.

2. Use people’s names

They say nothing is more musical to someone’s ears than their own name. Using people’s names in conversations is one of the most effective communication strategies to build an emotional bond.

Learn your coworkers’ names and use them as much as you can. From hellos and goodbyes to addressing people when in groups (or over a Teams call), use their names to acknowledge their identity. It’ll show them you’re interested in knowing more about them.

3. Connect over food

You know how we welcome new neighbors with freshly baked cookies or cake? Why not try the same at work? It doesn’t necessarily have to be baked goods. Get creative in the kitchen and bust out your family recipe. If cooking is not your cup of tea (or too much work), buy shareable packs of your favorite snacks. Alternatively, you could visit the local bakery or coffee place and pick out the bestsellers.

Hand out the snacks to co-workers or leave them in the break room with a small note. Either way, your colleagues will appreciate the thoughtful gesture and warm-up to you.

4. Spend time in communal areas

Colleagues interacting in an office — *Connect with others in communal areas via Unsplash*

Speaking of break rooms, common areas are a great place to form workplace friendships.

Shared spaces like the cafeteria, lounge area, and water cooler offer a relaxed setting where co-workers can unwind, socialize, and connect. Whether grabbing a quick bite or stretching your legs, consider hanging out in communal areas. It also expands your social circle beyond your cubicle or floor, as you might meet people from different teams or departments.

5. Start or join a Slack channel

It’s easier to make friends when you pass each other in the office hallways or eat lunch together. However, those working in remote positions don’t have this convenience. But that doesn’t mean they have to live a life of isolation!

Start or join a Slack channel with like-minded individuals to overcome this common struggle of missing that ‘personal’ touch. Bond over common interests, such as TV series, sports, books, recipes, or online games. You may even conduct virtual activities such as watch parties, book club meetings, bake-alongs, or tournaments.

Just check with your manager or supervisor to ensure the interest group does not violate any company policy.

6. Show a positive attitude

A positive attitude is a magnet for work friendships. A warm and friendly demeanor at work will draw people to you. In return, you will meet positive, like-minded individuals who can pick you up when the going gets tough.

Positive work habits such as helping others, stepping up during challenging moments, and supporting your coworkers will show you to be a reliable team player.

7. Engage in team activities

Most organizations host team-building activities periodically. Many also include such ice-breakers during the onboarding stage for new employees. These periodic work events reinforce team spirit and belonging through shared experiences.

Whether a virtual game of charades or an outdoor hiking expedition, every team activity is an opportunity to make friends at work. You already have the common ground of shared goals and challenges. Plus, solving problems together means you’ll have to rely on each other and develop trust, strengthening the friendship.

8. Be open to after-work socializing

The primary difference between team activities and after-work socializing is that the latter is not mandatory.

Showing up to after-work social events displays your commitment to making friends at work. Grabbing a drink during a virtual happy hour or attending a company dinner around Christmas allows coworkers to connect in a fun, relaxed, and informal setting outside of work.

You see your work friends as individuals and discover their hidden talents, interests, or hobbies. As conversations flow more freely and colleagues share laughs, you’ll make lasting memories and genuine friendships.

9. Celebrate milestones and achievements

Celebrations can be a perfect opportunity to make friends at work. Express praise for a job well done and congratulate coworkers on their wins.

Whether a promotion or a great presentation, appreciating co-workers shows support and can be a conversation starter.

Of course, such praise should come from a place of authenticity. You want to celebrate their success as your own and recognize their strengths and contributions. Small tokens of appreciation, such as a thank-you note or even an eCard, can go a long way in boosting someone’s self-worth. And when your time comes, your friends will remember your kind gestures and treat you with the same enthusiasm.

10. Volunteer

Companies often offer employees opportunities to volunteer for a good cause. This is a great way to make work friends who are as passionate about the cause as you.

Whether your office is conducting a cleanliness drive, hosting a charity bakesale, or running a city-wide marathon, volunteering for such events is a chance to do good and bond with colleagues with similar interests.

Working towards a meaningful cause will also give you a sense of purpose beyond the workplace, as your contribution benefits communities and society.

11. Be patient

Work friendships don’t form overnight. They take days, weeks, and months to materialize into something authentic.

Don’t expect to find your work bestie at the first office happy hour you attend. Just keep being yourself and interacting with coworkers. You also don’t want to force a friendship just to make friends at work. Find someone who puts in the same effort and energy, sometimes even going the extra mile to make you feel valued at work.

Also Read: How to network at a conference 🤝

Overcoming Shyness and Building Connections at Work

Are you a shy or socially awkward person who wishes to make friends at work but is afraid of putting yourself out there? We see you. Here are a few quick tips for you:

Set communication goals: Challenge yourself with simple communication goals. Tell yourself you’ll interact with several colleagues in a day or talk to a new person each week. Such small, achievable goals will raise your confidence levels and push you to cultivate workplace relationships
Practice active listening: Use your shyness to your advantage by taking on the role of a ‘good’ listener. Practice active listening by being present and attentive during conversations. Asking open-ended follow-up questions can keep the conversation flowing without exhausting your social battery
Use open body language: Body language is another way to participate in conversations without actually speaking. Make eye contact, smile, and nod where appropriate, and you will be an active participant in a conversation without saying a word
Leverage technology: If face-to-face interactions feel intimidating, use technology to communicate digitally. You have a variety of options, from instant messaging to email to video conferencing, to build rapport with your colleagues

ClickUp 3.0 Chat view simplified — *Use tools like ClickUp Chat to converse with your teammates*

Join interest groups: We’ve already seen how easy it is to nurture friendships when you share common ground. Consider joining interest groups to build connections that go beyond work. Also, you might find it easier to talk to someone new when you have common interests
Learn, observe, and improvise: Fortunately, you’ll find several books to boost communication skills. Learn from these and try to connect with your colleagues
Team up: Every workplace has that one extroverted colleague who knows everyone. Strike up a friendship with such an individual, and you’ll indirectly form friendships with everyone else
Take help: Don’t be afraid to seek support from your manager, mentor, or colleague. Talk to them about your particular challenges, and they might extend support to help you build meaningful connections
Practice self-compassion: If you freeze up in social settings or dread company-sponsored events, recognize this emotion and tell yourself it’s okay to feel this way. Practice self-compassion, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Remind yourself that things like these take time, and you’ll have several more opportunities to make friends at work

Using Online Platforms for Building Work Relationships

You use a variety of online platforms at work for everything from team management to planning your week. However, did you also know that you can use these online platforms to build and nurture workplace relationships?

Here’s how.

Internal communication tools

Almost all organizations use various workplace communication tools, such as email clients, instant messaging tools, or video conferencing platforms. These help maintain efficient synchronous and asynchronous communication between team members regardless of location.

Use these channels and tools to get in touch with your workmates. Set up chat rooms and interest-based Slack channels, schedule virtual coffee catchups, or have a tete-a-tete with your new work friend. Connecting over shared interests, experiences, and challenges will lay the foundation for deep friendships.

Collaboration platforms

ClickUp 3.0 Whiteboards Collaboration — *Collaborate with your team using features like Docs and Whiteboard on ClickUp*

Collaboration tools are often used in conjunction with internal communication software solutions. They provide a centralized location for teams to share files, create and edit documents, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects. These efforts contribute to team building as everyone works towards a shared goal.

Use platforms like ClickUp to interact and cooperate with coworkers to solve complex problems. Overcoming challenges together will add more value to your friendship.

Connecting with work friends over social networking sites like Instagram may fall into a gray area for some. Of course, it entirely depends on your comfort levels and the depth of your friendship; however, not everyone may want coworkers on their social media feeds.

So, to sustain work friendships while keeping your personal life distinct, consider connecting over professional platforms like LinkedIn. Use it to network with peers, mentors, and leaders and expand your professional circle.

Learning and skill development

You and your colleagues can sign up for learning and skill development programs. Online learning platforms, upskilling projects, virtual events, and interactive webinars help enhance skills. Participating in these with coworkers can also strengthen relationships.

Helping each other attain professional goals and accelerate career progression enriches work relationships by making them more value-driven.

Employee engagement platforms

Most organizations use employee engagement platforms. These platforms can develop a feeling of belonging and build a community that enriches workplace relationships. From participating in team-building activities to celebrating professional achievements, these engagement portals offer a chance to bond and build positive and meaningful relationships.

Bonus: Communication plan templates

Professional Boundaries in Workplace Friendships

While making friends at work has its fair share of merits, you must also maintain professional boundaries to ensure a healthy and respectful work environment. Doing so takes skill, as you don’t want to come off as rude or standoffish while enforcing boundaries.

Here are some tips that could help you navigate this:

Set and respect boundaries: Be mindful of your work friends’ boundaries and preferences, and be clear about your expectations and boundaries. Respect your new friends’ privacy and give them space as needed
Privacy in professionalism: Avoid discussing deeply personal topics and sensitive issues like religious or political beliefs in a professional setting. Keep private matters private to maintain cordial relationships with everyone
Understand workplace hierarchies: Be mindful of workplace power dynamics while striking up friendships at work. Sure, your new boss might be cool, but you don’t want to create a situation that can impact your career goals
Steer clear of gossip: Avoid gossiping or entertaining gossip. Establish from the outset of the friendship that you will not participate in unproductive and negative talk about others. If you find yourself caught up in office drama, simply stop engaging and stay passive until everything calms down
Prioritize work over socializing: While it is natural to make friends at work and have your share of fun, remember that the primary focus of your workplace is to maintain productivity. Strive to ensure that you don’t deprioritize your work and responsibilities
Fair treatment for all: Treat all co-workers fairly and equally, regardless of your relationships outside the confines of work. Do not show any bias or favoritism, especially while making decisions or resolving conflicts, and stay objective

ClickUp: Your Reliable Work Friend

ClickUp Views to Plan, Track, and Manage Work — *ClickUp supports you like a friend*

Making and sustaining friendships at work is not easy—but it doesn’t have to be complicated either, especially when you have tools like ClickUp.

ClickUp offers collaboration detection, allowing you to work with teammates on a shared project. You can create and edit documents together, add comments, and assign tasks to each other. You can also use ClickUp Whiteboards to bounce off ideas with your team, discuss possible solutions, build mindmaps and draw up workflows, and work collectively toward a shared goal.

And then there’s ClickUp Chat View, which sorts conversations in threads so you can participate in multiple interactions while maintaining your sanity!

ClickUp checks all the boxes to be that one friend at work who will never disappoint you.

Learn how ClickUp helps you deliver your best. Sign up for free now!

Common FAQs

1. How can I make friends at work if I am new?

If you’re new to the office and wish to make friends, consider introducing yourself to your colleagues, making small talk, attending work events, and participating in team activities to know your co-workers better.

2. What are the benefits of making friends at work?

Making friends at work develops a feeling of camaraderie and belonging. It is an antidote for isolation and loneliness while improving collaboration and communication among team members. It drives engagement, which improves morale and boosts workplace satisfaction. Further, it can unlock networking opportunities for personal growth and career advancement.

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