Work Friends: The Do’s and Don’ts

Once you get a new healthcare job, the real work begins — both in learning about your role and in getting to know the people you’ll be working with every day. While it’s great to establish friendships in the workplace, it’s also important to remember that these are work friends, so different rules apply. Here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to making friends at work.

Do’s with Coworker Friends

1. DO engage with your coworkers. A confident person who makes eye contact and engages others is a winning companion. Smile and have a welcoming attitude. If you have a remote healthcare career, you can still connect with coworkers with virtual coffee breaks and by engaging in small talk when you’re waiting for online meetings to start.
2. DO ask coworkers how they’re doing. Just as importantly, if you want to make friends at work, be a good listener when they answer. Take an interest in them. Also, by being observant, you can find things you have in common. These details can help spark conversations later. It also shows that you’re a person who listens and cares.
3. DO participate in work events. Even when you think your participation doesn’t matter, it might. Contribute to office birthday cards and help plan social events, so you have a chance to interact with your colleagues in an environment outside of work.
4. DO make giving help a two-way street. It’s okay to be vulnerable and ask for help, but it’s also important to return the favor. Even when you don’t know an answer, if someone asks for your help, take the time to look for the response they need. They’ll value you as a coworker who is willing to go above and beyond for the entire team.
5. DO keep a positive attitude. If you want to make friends with other positive people at work, start by being positive yourself. Be genuine and look for good things happening around you. Not only can this help you feel better but, soon, other positive coworkers will seek you out too.

Don’ts with Friends at Work

1. DON’T gossip or complain. We all have bad days, but everyone at work doesn’t need to know about it. When you’re having a difficult time with your job or even another coworker, avoid talking negatively about the other person or complaining. You never know how this may impact your job later.
2. DON’T get too personal. While it’s great to make connections and find things you have in common with coworker friends, this isn’t the time to share your deepest darkest secrets. Keep things professional when talking and avoid oversharing your personal struggles. Topics you may want to avoid because they can be controversial or make coworkers feel uncomfortable include politics, money, and details about your love life.
3. DON’T rush to make friends at work. It’s only normal to want to get along with the people you work side by side with day in and day out. However, if you push too hard to create a friendship from the moment you start your new job, it can be off-putting versus drawing potential coworker friends in. Allow new work friendships to form on their own. Let them run their normal course so they can build on solid ground.
4. DON’T exclude others. Nobody likes feeling left out. Even if you experienced exclusion when you first started, you still don’t want to make someone else feel that way. Lead by example and be open and welcoming to all other employees. Hopefully, your colleagues will follow.
5. DON’T add all your work friends to your social media. Your social media is for just that: your social (outside of work) friends. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always choose not to accept invites from work friends. Another option is to create a separate account where you can connect with only the people you work with.

By following these simple do’s and don’ts, you can make some good work friends. It’s important to keep an open mind as you meet and learn about people in the workplace, just like you do in your personal life. Be genuine, yet professional and you can establish lasting coworker relationships in no time at all.