In case you missed it (ICYMI!), the first Sunday of August is International Friendship Day. Chances are you probably saw a lot of sappy social media posts celebrating the occasion with close friends and family. Whether or not you like Hallmark holidays, I always think it’s essential to take the time out of our days to celebrate and cherish the precious and memorable bond of true friendship. Who doesn’t like a good excuse to hang out with your BFF?
But let’s not forget about your work BFFs, too!
We are social creatures and have always valued the importance of friends in our lives. And when most of our days are spent at the office, friendships at work are not just lovely to have; they are vital to your happiness (and sanity!). Numerous research reports tell us that employee engagement is plateauing at a dismally low rate, and friendships can make the difference between happiness at work and employee burnout.
Whether it be crazy Hawaiian shirt day, corporate community service, or wellness competitions, organizations know the importance of creating an environment where teamwork and togetherness cultivate friendships. In celebration of International Friendship Day, here are the top three benefits organizations can expect when their employees feel that work is more than just a day at the office:
- Happier employees – Strong social connections at work boost productivity and make employees happier at their jobs. Friendships are a crucial driver of engagement and, thus, performance and contribute significantly to staff retention rates.
- Motivated employees – Connected colleagues usually motivate each other to work harder due to camaraderie. A poor effort means more than just a dissatisfied customer; it means letting your friends down. A shared sense of purpose and social pressure to do a good job can often be a stronger motivator than a boss.
- Company loyalty – Employees with solid friendships tend to stay with their company for extended periods. When our coworkers are our friends, their loyalty to their colleagues keeps them from changing jobs or accepting an offer from another company.
Friendships in the office are not limited to personal relationships; they can also be between departments. The closer teams work together, the better for the organization.
Over the years, I’ve seen great things come from friendships at work. There’s always something we can learn from each other. This is especially true of marketing and learning departments. In the spirit of celebrating friends and building stronger relationships at work, check out our “Why Learning and Marketing should be BFFs” whitepaper for tips on how you can increase the success of your training and development program and market your learning management system (LMS) in a fun and targeted way.