The in-office experience is dying.

People would rather be lonely working from home than drive 30 minutes into an office and work alongside teammates.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the flexibility of remote work, but I also enjoy going into the office and spending time face-to-face with the people I work with 40 hours a week.

For many people, the office is a dull experience, because for some reason, as a society, we decided to rip the authentic connection out of the office and replace it manufactured fun like ping-pong tables, and life-size Jenga.

Make offices fun again and create actual personal connections and relationships with your coworkers.

You’ll be amazed by what you are able to create when people actually enjoy spending time in the office.

HOW TO make friends at work

1. Give a sh*t about their personal life.

You spend over 2,000 hours a year with your coworkers, use some of that time to understand their personal life and interests. The deeper you know someone, the more you can trust them.

2. Give Honest Feedback.

Your colleagues would rather get feedback from you than from their manager at a performance review/or an exit interview. If you notice a skill they can improve, let them know, offer resources or better yet, teach them. People give authentic feedback to people they care about.

3. Collaborate Early and Often.

Work is more fun in a group. If you have the opportunity to work with others, take advantage and make it fun. There is nothing more bonding than a winning team.

4. Acknowledge, don’t “Shout Out”

Take time to acknowledge your colleagues hard work. Not a “shout out” over slack for everyone to see, but take a moment to recognize your teammates one-on-one and in person. Vulnerability and connection is missing from today’s workplace.

5. Socialize Inside of Work

You don’t need to hang out with coworkers outside of work to be their friend, but you do need to hang out with them. Schedule time during the day to go for a walk, grab a coffee, or eat lunch.

6. Don’t Gossip

Gossip only reflects poorly on your character, not the person you're talking about.

WHY make friends at work

Friends at work boosts morale, enhances collaboration, and creates a supportive environment. A study by Gallup found that employees with strong work friendships are 50% more likely to be engaged at work, leading to higher job satisfaction and retention rates.

Research published in the Harvard Business Review indicates that employees who feel socially connected at work are 35% more productive and 10% more engaged in their tasks.

It’s not just about having fun at work, it’s about being better at your job.

As always, thanks for reading and…don’t be boring!

Joel