How to Turn a Work Friend Into a Real Friend

Whether it is a virtual coffee date, a joint workout, or a catch up in your lunch hour, make a plan and stick to it. It can help you get to know your co-workers better and show you the brighter side of the workplace. If you connect via social media, you’ll have a way to chat with co-workers out of hours. If you’re in the same area, you may even get the chance to meet up.

1. While we all need to be careful on social media, it can prove a helpful lifeline for non work-related conversations, and keeping in touch outside of working hours.
2. Just because you’re in the market for new friends doesn’t mean your colleagues are, Duffy says.
3. According to the 2018 Global Co-Working Forecast, 1.7 million people will be working from shared spaces by the end of 2018.
4. If you want to meet tech entrepreneurs, go to meetups in tech hotspots.

How-To Use Virtual Vocations: User Information Session

There are how to make friends when you work from home many interest groups where you can expand your friendship and professional circle. Join groups and attend regular events to meet new people. With some meetup groups, it can feel cliquey and difficult to approach people because some groups’ are close-knit especially when they’ve been running for several years. Being the world’s biggest social networking app brings big opportunities to make friends.

1. Casual Slack messages during team meetings turn into gossip-filled lunch dates that turn into sending each other memes on Instagram.
2. 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.
3. Most of us want other people to find us and our businesses interesting and captivating and fascinating.
4. At an open mic night, I met a woman who shared my enthusiasm for comedy.
5. Even if you don’t make lifelong friends, you’re at least giving yourself the chance to be active and happy through work-life balance.

Initiate virtual coffees or cocktails.

Or, do you even have the capacity to take on a new friend right now? “Those can be clues that there’s something going on that might not lend itself to a friendship, at least in that moment,” adds Dr Kirmayer. “It’s tempting to hold on to the thing that initially brought you together,” says Dr. Kirmayer. “You might be really wanting to update this friend on the latest office scandal.

Sometimes it takes some creativity and effort to get to know your remote friends. Use social media tools like Instagram and Twitter to see what people in your field or work focus are doing. If there are shared interests or values, I find people are always willing to meet for a coffee and exchange ideas. Search hashtags by the city you’re in or #digitalnomad, and you’re bound to find someone to connect with. Casual Slack messages during team meetings turn into gossip-filled lunch dates that turn into sending each other memes on Instagram.

You quickly miss the natural connection with coworkers where so many of us ultimately find great friendships. Making friends as an adult can already be a bit tricky, and we often rely on an office for much of that post-school interaction. As increasing numbers of us work virtually (or for ourselves!), there are more people than you might expect hoping to make new friends outside of a workplace. Tell your new work buddies that you’re looking to meet some new people, and plan a small hangout where you each bring one or two friends from outside of work if possible. If you’ve recently moved to the area, or don’t have too many friends to bring, don’t hesitate to tell your understanding new work friend, as they’ll bring the party for you. Again, this tends to be much easier when you’re in person, but it’s not an impossible feat to accomplish remotely.

Fast forward 16 years — plus two children and a new job — and I’m still happy in Singapore. Because the city has a large transient population, I’ve seen many friends and coworkers come and go — but even this has had benefits. Consider enrolling in a language class, dance class, sports team, or photography or literature club. Participating in group activities and engaging in conversations can help you enrich your personal and professional life. To make friends with your colleagues, you’re going to need to let your guard down a little bit. You don’t need to share deep secrets, but you should try to make interactions about more than just work.

Remote Work Tips

On Thanksgiving day, I prepared stuffing and a few pumpkin pies in my new kitchen. Peter had Skyped his mom back in Guildford for a step-by-step tutorial on how to prepare a turkey, and it was in the oven when we arrived. The other guests showed up with more sides and bottles of wine. I left that night with a full belly and a whole new group of friends to be thankful for.

They can provide unbiased feedback, advice and guidance that a close friend at work couldn’t. As you discover more about another person, you’ll learn how to build trust with them. Trusting someone involves learning how to communicate in a way that makes everyone feel comfortable and respected. Howe says it’s important to be a little more mindful in communication, as corresponding via messaging platforms or email may not convey tone or intent. It’s not uncommon for jokes to fall flat or for brief correspondence to come across as abrupt or rude in written messages.

Company Culture

Whether you’re into dancing, cooking, playing sports, or fomenting revolution — your town is sure to offer a club that’s right for you. Sure, many of us enjoy working in the comfort of our own living rooms — but to make friends, it’s going to help if you put yourself out there. But if this predicament sounds awfully familiar, don’t lose heart! In this article, we’re going to outline some of the most effective ways to stay social while working from home. At Atlassian we encourage individuals to give team members kudos (thank you notes with small gifts) when they embody a specific trait from our company values.

It was awkward for about a minute, but a single hug later we were picking up in real life where we’d left off online. After endless chats, years of liking each other’s Facebook posts, and hours of commiserating over everything from micromanaging bosses to the single life, we weren’t just colleagues. Beyond industry-wide events, there may also be times when your company arranges to gather everyone together in person. This offers a great opportunity to make friends out of those you already work with.