When Deepika Padukone recalled this golden advice given to her by Shah Rukh Khan: ‘Always remember to work with people…’

Making friends at work comes with nuance. There is a difference between typical co-worker relationships and true friendships. Generally speaking, people we work with are not necessarily friends. This is because true friendship is built upon a foundation of trust and comfort that takes years to build. But finding the same level of comfort in your colleagues is not entirely impossible.

Indianexpress.com spoke to Rima Bhandekar, Senior Psychologist Helpline Mpower Aditya Birla Education Trust and found out how you can navigate both.

“Connection and community are essential to the workplace. They help us create a sense of belonging, strengthen our psychological contracts with our employers and help drive us to be motivated and efficient. Strong relationships can facilitate communication and advice-sharing among co-workers,” said Bhandekar.

Navigating friendship at work can be nuanced (Source: Freepik)

When employees are happy, engaged and productive, and the organisation is meeting their individual needs, they are more likely to meet their full potential. “The good vibes between colleagues lead to having an enjoyable time during work hours, which in turn helps collaboration flow naturally, creativity to flourish, and setbacks become easier to overcome together,” she added.

However, it’s important to note workplace friendships can have a downside. “Friendships at work can be problematic due to rumours of relationships, nepotism and favouritism, to name a few,” she said. The concept of “work” and “play” can often conflict when career goals intersect or worse when there is a conflict. In such cases, establishing clear boundaries, and communicating clearly and effectively can help navigate such conflict.

Employees with friends at work are twice as likely to feel passionate about their roles. These individuals also tend to interact with clients, deliver high-quality work and express overall greater degrees of well-being than those without work friends, added the expert.

How to make friends at work?

If you find yourself stuck, here’s a quick guide to help you build cordial work relationships:

Kindness in small packages: A simple thank-you, a shared laugh, or an offer of help can brighten someone’s day and built goodwill

Communicate with Care: Open, courteous communication, compassionate listening brings people together to achieve deadlines faster

Emotional Maturity: Honoring individual working styles, and emotional space at work helps earn mutual trust while achieving targets

Celebrate All: Understand that everyone has different ways of highlighting their work, acknowledging others’ successes builds team spirit and a culture of thankfulness.