If you count your work colleagues among your close friends, you're not alone. A new LinkedIn survey of more than 11,500 full-time professionals around the world finds that 46 percent of professionals ages 18 to 65—and 57 percent of those ages 18 to 24—say their friendships with their coworkers make them happier on the job. Three out of five of the surveyed millennials also say that in-person socializing makes their work environment better.
MORE: 7 Ways to Get Out of Work Earlier Today
Having friends at work is super-important for your overall happiness, says Gen Y career expert Dan Schawbel, author of Promote Yourself: The New Rules for Career Success. "There's a huge connection between happiness at work and happiness outside of work," he says. Being friendly with your colleagues can also impact how successful you are on the job—if you know your colleagues well and get along, you're better able to collaborate with them, says Schawbel. And, he says, your friendships can also help you out in the long run. Let's say your coworker friend leaves her job for a higher position at another office and then has a say in hiring at her new company—if she knows you and respects you and your work ethic, she might consider recommending you for the gig. (Nearly one out of three millennials surveyed said they think in-person socializing with their coworkers will help the m move up in their careers.)
MORE: 13 Essential Tips on How to CRUSH IT at Work—From a Woman Who KNOWS
But is it possible to be too friendly with your colleagues? Forty-nine percent of millennials would talk to their colleagues about salaries (only 31 percent of 55- to 65-year-olds would do the same), according to the survey. And 53 percent of millennials would discuss relationship advice with them (but only 23 percent of 55- to 65-year-olds would go there).
"You have to be careful," says Schawbel. Talking about salaries might upset your management; if you're going to do it, you have to be smart about who you're having these conversations with, he says. And while some talk about relationships is totally natural ("I went on a date last night" is basically just a rundown of your evening.), "you shouldn't talk about your sexual encounters or things that would be very private between you and your girlfriend or boyfriend," says Schawbel. "You can talk about vacations you're taking with them or how you met them, but don't go too far outside of those topics." There’s definitely a line, he says—and just in case it isn't obvious, politics, race, class, and gender are on the other side of that line, too.
Tell us in the comments: How much personal info do you share about yourself with your coworkers? Do you think it’s helped you or hurt you on the job?
MORE: How to Deal If Your Coworker Is Giving You the Cold Shoulder
Powered by WPeMatico
No comments:
Post a Comment