GuyBews

Director

Random discussion: Does anyone keep relationships strictly professional at work? Anyone have friendships @ work that have backfired? (note: not talking about sex)

I think most people maintain a healthy mix of both. Most relationships at work remain strictly professional (bosses, leaderships, *cough* marketing). But most people I'd guess develop some level of friendship with some peers that you vibe with.

Has your developing a friendship @ work ever backfired? Where you think you're cool then get blindsided by some bullshit? I've witnessed cases where a group of AEs becomes tight, then one AE is promoted to Sales Manager, then they shift their relationship dynamic to be 100% professional. Also seen the reverse, where they keep the friendship, but then makes the working environment more challenging. Also seen it work out great, where the parties can keep things professional when they need to, but also have a healthy friendship outside of the space.

I've had a few instances where I had friendships but for one reason or another, they fizzled away and now have healthy, strictly professional relationships.

How do you approach relationships at work

Attached poll

Strictly Professional Try to be friends with anyone and everyone Healthy mix of both

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

💆‍♂ Mindset

🏄 Personal Life

9

12 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

7

🦊

First and foremost I am professional. Don't need HR up my foxhole.

Some of my closest friends are people I worked with. Are you going to have that bond and trust with everyone? Nope. Should you be calm and question intentions of those who give you a bad feeling in your gut? Yup.

funcoupons

WR Officer

2

👑

I remain professional with most people, but am not opposed to an outside of work friendship with people I vibe with. I don't think it's appropriate for managers to be friends with lower level employees, though. Too many opportunities for drama, favoritism, and bad blood.

GuyBews

Opinionated

1

Director

Yeah, I generally agree. Friendship at different levels is tough. It undoubtedly creates bias, even if it's subconscious. And even if you're able to keep out the bias, others will perceive the bias and it can create a shitstorm.

funcoupons

WR Officer

2

👑

Exactly. It's just not a good look, overall.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

0

🦊

Agreed

CoorsKing

WR Officer

2

Retired King of the Coors Knights

I am close friends with a few of my colleagues, actually going to visit one that moved to Chicago in May. Never had any issues, if anything it has helped improve performance at work because the level of collaboration is next level.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

1

Director Sales and Market Development

I have good working relationships and deep personal discussions around hobbies and wife and kids, etc. But we arent besties, but i would stay in touch and add them on facebook if we left the company.

Telehealth_2the_Moon

Notable Contributor

1

Director of Business Development

I think it's great to be friends when possible, but you have to both be comfortable with there being work vs personal modes. Sometimes you're going to disagree about a work thing, and it's hard to keep those lines from blurring at times.

Also, your example is probably one of the most challenging things to do. Go from being buddies with everyone and then becoming their boss. Even if everything is cool, new people coming in are going to probably pick up on the informal dynamic and that can make it harder as a leader.

beerisforclosers

Politicker

1

Account Manager

One of my former colleagues was in my wedding. She's my ride or die and has been from day one. But I definitely don't seek friendships at work; sometimes they happen naturally.

YoungMoney

Good Citizen

1

Director of Sales

If you work as much as the typical salesperson works, it's super convenient to make friends at work, and I believe you should.

As someone who's also seriously dated someone from work, just tread lightly. I'll never do it again for multiple reasons, but being professional is the easy part.

aiko

Politicker

0

Sr. Account Executive

I like to have a good relationship with everyone and find 1-2 people I can vibe with outside of work from different departments

Swarthymovie

Arsonist

0

SDR

there are people in the work place that can keep a friendly and healthy relation and job, it doesn't have to be always 100% strict, but there are others that simply can't for various reasons, the best thing to do is learn to tell the difference and try to make the best out of your workplace

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