Published on 04:47 PM, October 17, 2022

#Perspective

Should co-workers be more than colleagues?

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Working alone can be isolating. You spend most of your time with co-workers, and you are often judged for how well you perform. But what if there were a method to make work more enjoyable? What if the folks in your immediate vicinity were more than just co-workers? Would it be beneficial to your career?
The line between colleagues and friends has blurred, and the way we interact with each other is evolving. As a result of this, it is important to know where you stand in your current position or organisation.

Can it be a good thing

If you can maintain a professional relationship and work well together, that's great. But if you are unable to work together effectively — and this may happen when two people have separate values or goals in their work — then things are not going to go well for either of them.

How close is too close

The first piece of advice is to just talk about work‐related subjects with co-workers. This implies that if you are discussing any movie you saw last night, it needs to be about your line of work (or a movie that could be relevant). Therefore, avoid discussing your weekend plans until someone specifically brings them up. It's also important to keep in mind that some topics should be avoided during workplace conversations, including feelings toward one another, personal information like birthdays and anniversaries, and topics that are too sensitive for even light talk. When you work together every day, you might assume that these things would not matter much, but they do affect how people view you. Avoid answering too many questions at once when someone asks you about yourself or a co-worker to avoid coming across as overly friendly to either person.

What to do if your boss likes you

If your boss likes you, it seems like the best feeling in the world. But if things go too far and s/he crosses a line, it's important to know where that line is for you.

Be cautious about what you say; you might be tempted to tell them all their secrets and flaws, but do not do this! You need to keep some of your intimate secrets to yourself from them. Otherwise, they will be able to manipulate every single aspect of your life — and who wants that?

Are colleagues becoming friends

As a workplace, we are all too familiar with the term "colleague" or "co-worker." But what does it mean to be a friend? A friendship between co-workers is possible if both parties are comfortable with it. The idea here is to not be afraid of closeness; if anyone tries to develop friendships with one another, there is no reason why this should undermine anything else happening inside of them.

The work culture has shifted

The company structure helps to maintain employee relationships sometimes. One of their fringe benefits may be Leave Fare Assistance. It consists of a compulsory paid annual leave scheme. As a result, when one co-worker goes on vacation, another one must step in and it will create a successor for the company.
It's critical to understand where you stand in the global shift in work culture. Workplace connections vary from country to country; in some, managers are permitted to discuss salaries with their staff more than in others. The workplace is evolving, but it's also crucial to strike a balance between work and life — which can be challenging if you are attempting to preserve a healthy relationship at home.