Friendship

It's common knowledge that socialization with good friends is good for our health. In addition to increasing a sense of belonging and purpose, friends can boost happiness, improve self-confidence, help cope with life's disappointments, and encourage positive behavior change.

And in the past, work was an easy way to make friendships because individuals working toward a shared project or goal spent hours together each week. Lots of time together morphed into " I have a best friend at work."

Being able to make this statement, which is something only two in 10 U.S. workers can answer with a strong yes today, can mean seven times higher job satisfaction and lower cortisol in times of stress. It can also mean higher productivity and greater employee engagement. In short, workplace friendships are healthy for the employee and great for business.

Employers who recognize the need to foster relationships have tried to replace the water cooler talk with in-person or virtual yoga classes, family night at the local baseball stadium, birthday celebrations, retirement parties, and more. But, while valuable in helping bridge the gap, employees recognize something is missing.

One reason these events do not build the relationships employers hope for is because water cooler talks are typically impromptu discussions when employees gather, share and learn from each other, not planned company events.

Do you want to offer your employees the chance to have an impromptu conversation and interact in an environment they've chosen to be a part of, a safe place where inclusion, belonging, and trust create meaningful social connections? Then send me a message, and let's set up 20 minutes to discuss your employees' needs.