A Guide to the Tenth Element of Employee Engagement: Encouraging Workplace Friendships

In some workplaces—authoritarian ones, namely—there’s a lingering belief that workplace friendships are little more than distractions, pulling employees away from their responsibilities and reducing productivity. These leaders see those strong, personal relationships as a threat to efficiency, but in reality, workplace friendships can have a significant positive impact on collaboration and, yes, even job performance. 

That’s why Gallup’s Tenth Element of Employee Engagement states:

• “I have a best friend at work.”

The truth is that employees don’t leave their deeply human need for connection when they clock in at 9:00. Regardless of the workplace, the expectations, and the environment, friendships are bound to crop up anywhere that more than one person exists. And, given Tom Hanks’ relationship with Wilson in Castaway, that rule for “more than one person” is flexible!

Therefore, workplace friendships are among the most powerful drivers of engagement:

• Workplace Satisfaction: 32% of employees who have a best friend at work say they are “Highly Satisfied,” versus 15% of employees who do not have a best friend at work.
• Intention to Find a New Job: 37% of employees who have a best friend at work are looking for a new job, versus 49% of those who do not.
• Likelihood to Recommend Their Company as a Great Place to Work: 44% of those who have a best friend at work strongly agree that they would recommend their organization as a great place to work versus 22% of those who do not have a best friend at work.

Unfortunately, a report by Better Up shows that 69% of people report being unsatisfied with their social connections at work and 22% say they don’t have a single friend.

While these relationships don’t all look the same or foster the same level of connection, each iteration—best friends, close friends, friendly relationships, and acquaintances—contributes to building a more engaged team. 

Friendships Type 1: Best Friends

Best friendships manifest as more than casual water-cooler talk and amenable project collaboration. Instead, they have a foundation built on genuine, mutual trust and an authentic interest in each other’s well-being both in and out of the office. 

Unlike the other three forms of workplace friendships, best friends aren’t primarily relegated to time on the clock. They celebrate each other’s personal milestones and provide emotional support during difficult times, providing such unwavering encouragement that the relationship feels more akin to family ties. 

The benefits of having such a closely held relationship with someone at work can lead to the following:

• Emotional resilience: Best friends are a reliable support system for employees to turn to when they encounter a challenge, so they bounce back more quickly.
• Positive risk-taking: Knowing someone will always have their back gives employees the confidence to explore bold ideas without fearing judgment. 
• Problem-solving skills: When you know someone else’s working styles and strengths, it’s far easier to collaborate together than starting from scratch with a completely new partner. Having a shared sense of familiarity helps best friends communicate more naturally with one another, giving them the power to generate creative solutions to complex problems. 
• Leadership development: Employees with best friends are more comfortable stepping up in group settings because they feel secure in the support of their peers. They know that if they make a mistake, they’ll be helped through it instead of scrutinized. 

Friendships Type 2: Close Friends

Though not quite as connected as best friends, close friends still serve as dependable colleagues who know each other well and often share meaningful moments both personally and professionally. Their bond just doesn’t typically extend as far beyond the office or have the same level of intimacy. 

Like all good relationships, close friends create their relationships through respect and trust, making them the backbone of workplace collaboration. Close friendships, while rare, are not nearly as rare as best friendships, and so are more likely to develop between multiple coworkers. 

The benefits of close friendships in the workplace include:

• Collaboration without overreliance: Because close friendships lack the level of interdependence that best friendships do, the connection stays grounded in a level of professional respect that leads to more consistent collaboration without the potential for overreliance. 
• Healthy competition: Close friends often challenge each other to improve without the tension that might come from stronger emotional bonds.
• A sense of belonging: Employees with close friends feel like they are an integral part of the team, which encourages loyalty to the company. 
• Having a buffer against stress: A quick conversation with a close workplace friend can help employees maintain perspective and regain focus when they feel overwhelmed. 

Friendships Type 3: Friendly Relationships

Friendly relationships typically take root in close-working teams or departments, where surface-level mutual respect is necessary to create a safe, productive environment. In action, it looks like a group of people who feel comfortable working together and engaging in lighthearted banter without strong emotional bonds. 

These friendships are incredibly important when evaluating the overall workplace culture. If your individual teams can work harmoniously day in and day out, productivity will stay relatively steady.

The benefits of friendly relationships in the workplace include:

• Inclusivity: Even for people who don’t have deeper friendships at work, being part of a friendly group keeps individuals from feeling isolated for eight hours a day.
• Lowers communication barriers: Having a friendly relationship with coworkers keeps interactions like asking quick questions or sharing ideas upbeat and light.
• A positive atmosphere: Employees know that their days will be enjoyable and low tension, so they are naturally more positive about existing within the professional ecosystem.
• Quicker solutions to conflict: In workplaces where people are friendly with each other, employees are more willing to compromise without escalating disputes. 

Friendships Type 4: Acquaintances

The least personal connections exist between workplace acquaintances, who may engage in occasional small talk or daily greetings. They know each other exists in proximity, but those relationships don’t extend beyond surface-level boundaries. 

Though lacking depth, workplace acquaintances are invaluable, particularly in large companies, as they help employees build a larger network and stay connected to a broader pool of colleagues. 

The benefits of friendly relationships in the workplace include:

• Welcoming newcomers: It’s hard to be the new person on the team, but the simple act of being acknowledged helps tentative employees feel included. 
• Casual exchange of ideas: A quick chat in the hallway is plenty of time to share a casual but helpful insight that wouldn’t necessarily happen in more structured settings.
• Growth potential: All friendships start somewhere, and people who share something as simple as a hello each morning can evolve into a positive, collaborative relationship. 

Workplace Friendships Are a Boon, Not a Deficit

Encouraging friendships at work amplifies productivity because connected employees are collaborative ones. A leader’s willingness to not just allow these relationships to develop but to encourage them shows that you value the whole employee—and the long-term benefits of that holistic approach—over the burnout-inducing, productivity-centric leadership model. 

When you’re ready to learn more about nurturing your employees’ friendships while maintaining a productive, professional workplace, you’ll want a mentor by your side. Lori Moen of Catalyst Group ECR will work alongside you as you realize your potential and set yourself up for long-term success.