Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN on Unsplash
As an adult, meeting new people isn’t always easy.
It’s challenging to make (and keep) consistent plans, bond over commonalities, and generally build friendships—which takes time.
Maybe unsurprisingly, some of our most unexpected relationships and friendships begin—and blossom—in the workplace. It’s no surprise that folks you spend 40+ hours with every week might become actual friends.
Of course, many of us have our own lives outside of work. As such, not everyone is interested in team-building activities, happy hours, and extracurricular work socialization. That’s fine, too.
We’re not urging you to get out there and make BFF bracelets for your boss, but you can take your workplace relationships to “the next level.”
If you want to meet and get to know your coworkers a little better—especially as a new employee—we have some ideas for you.
The Impact of Workplace Friendships and Healthy Workplace Relationships
According to the Workplace Friendship & Happiness Survey by Wildgoose, 57% of people say having a best friend in the workplace makes work more enjoyable, 22% feel more productive with friends, and 21% say friendship makes them more creative.
Workplace Friendships Improve Your Mood at Work and Your Relationship With Your Work
This is a pretty simple one to understand. When you enjoy the people you work alongside, you will likely enjoy working more. Having positive interpersonal relationships at work will make every Sunday a little less scary.
Workplace Friendships Boost Your Productivity and Increase Retention
Think of a job you’ve had in the past—one where you didn’t like any of your coworkers. We’d bet you treated that job like a clock-in and clock-out. Rather than looking for ways to grow and learn, you simply wanted to endure the working hours and return to your real life. Having friendships with your coworkers usually translates to an increased desire to collaborate and create success together.
Workplace Friendships Propel Career Growth and Confidence
Think of your best friend, your best cheerleader, and imagine having that person at work. Having relationships with your coworkers opens doors to new opportunities—all with the support of your teammates saying, “You can do this!”
Having positive relationships at work has enormous benefits for your mental health and your career.
9 Ways to Meet New People at Work (+ Create Friendships)
The most daunting element of meeting new people in the workplace is probably making a good impression in your first interaction. Studies have shown that most first impressions happen in a matter of seconds.
1. Start Simple by Introducing Yourself
Yep, the whole, "Hi, my name is..." can be your ticket to making a good first impression. It might sound simple because it is. Don't skip this step out of shyness or fear of bothering your coworkers.
If working remotely, you might consider sending a Slack or internal message to your new coworkers or writing personalized emails.
2. Learn About Your Coworkers
A simple way to bond with your coworkers is by finding commonalities. They can be as seemingly insignificant or as meaningful as it takes to find common ground. Finding common hobbies and interests provides easy ways to initiate conversations with coworkers.
Common Hobbies and Interests to Explore:
- Favorite television programs
- Interest in music
- Favorite podcasts
- Interest in literature
- Shared interest in movies
- Shared hobbies outside of work
- Interest in work-related skills
- Same alma mater
- From the same city, town, or geographic area
Pro Tip: Get the conversation flowing by asking your coworkers about themselves. People love talking about themselves. Give your nerves a rest by letting them tell you all about then.
3. Move Around the Office
If you work in a traditional office setting, don't settle into your desk all day. Take lunch outside. Ask a coworker if they'd like to hit the local coffee shop to stave off that 3:00 pm slump. Say hi when you pass others in the hall. You're not glued to your seat. Take the time to stretch your your legs—and use that time to exercise a little social energy too!
4. Join an Affinity Group at Work
A great way to explore common interests and passions is by joining or creating an affinity group at work. Affinity groups, also known as ERGs (Employer-Recognized Groups), are generally committees or groups created to bond underrepresented folks at work. Some common affinity groups are women’s clubs, LGBTQIA+ groups, and working caregiver groups.
Affinity groups can also be clubs formed around a common interest, cause, or passion. Some workplace groups go on team bike rides, participate in environmental cleanups, or volunteer for a cause that they're passionate about.
When starting a new job, find out if there are any affinity groups you’d like to join. If not, consider starting your own affinity group at work.
5. Be a Positive Presence at Work
Before we dive into this tip, you're allowed to have a bad day. You're allowed to be a human at work. However, trying to keep a positive mental attitude at work can be just as infectious as arriving in a bad mood.
Try to keep a positive presence at work. This doesn’t mean walking around with a fake smile plastered on your face. Instead, it’s looking forward to solutions rather than languishing in challenging problems at work.
Try to become the person who is more likely to have the solution.
6. (Almost) Everybody Loves Doughnuts and Bagels
Imagine this. It’s a rainy Tuesday, and nobody feels like being in the office. At 8:59 am, you roll into the office with a pink and orange box of delicious treats. Everybody (well, most everybody) will light up when they see doughnuts enter the scene.
This is a small but meaningful way to show your coworkers that you think of them. Bringing in team treats is a great way to foster solidarity and togetherness—especially during a challenging or demanding week.
7. Don’t Gatekeep
The best (and healthiest) workplaces place importance on collaboration over competition. Gatekeeping describes the act of keeping a hack, trick, or skill to yourself in the interest of propelling yourself forward.
If you have pieces of advice or tricks that could help your team, don’t gatekeep them! Share with your team, so that you can all share success together. Fostering an open environment that prioritizes idea sharing is a guaranteed way to lead your team to success—even if you’re not necessarily a “leader” in job title.
8. Avoid Troublemakers
If this sounds like a tip from middle school, you’re on target. For better or worse, the workplace can play out like the school grounds. As such, there can be bullies, gossips, and cliques in your workplace. Especially as a new employee, try to avoid these types.
It can be tempting to join a clique at work. They are often some of the first to reach out to offer you a juicy piece of gossip that makes your jaw drop. Is that true about Jo from accounting?
Don’t engage in gossip or hearsay, even when it feels tempting to forge new relationships at work. You don’t want to build your newest professional relationships based on gossip and mean behavior.
Pro Tip: Whenever starting relationships at work, keep everything work appropriate.
Don't Be Discouraged By the Disintested Folks
Some of your coworkers will be friendly and receptive to your enthusiasm. Others might be less open to starting new friendships or relationships at work. Don't take it personally.
Some of your coworkers are overwhelmed, overworked, or more introverted in general. While that doesn't give anyone license to be rude or dismissive, it might mean that they aren't interested in becoming friendly with their coworkers. That's okay, too. You are not obliged to be the resident Ted Lasso of your workplace, but you can always be friendly and open without being intrusive or overbearing.
