Making friends at work can be hard. You see the same people day in and day out, but you don’t know them very well. But what if you want to change that? What if you want to make a friend at work?
Friends sitcom quiz is tough. There is no one-size-fits-all method to making friends; you have to put yourself out there and see what happens.
I know it sounds intimidating, and even scary., but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips on how to make friends with your coworkers:
1. Make your office feel less like an office.
If you want to make friends at work, the first step is making yourself more comfortable there. Create a space that feels more like home than a cubicle farm and you’ll be more likely to relax and let people in.
Add some personal touches (a poster or two, perhaps? A plant?) and make sure it’s clear that you’re allowed to have them, this can be done by bringing in something from home or by just asking your boss if it’s okay if you hang up some pictures on the walls.
If possible, try getting into one of those open-office plans where everyone works together at large tables instead of having separate little cubicles; this can help bring people together as well as create a much more open feeling around everyone working there
2. Have a common purpose to bond over outside of work.
You don’t need to be on the same team or in the same department, but if you share a common goal, it will be easier to create relationships with people who have similar interests.
This can be something as simple as playing sports together or engaging in some other form of recreation that you both enjoy, such as hiking and camping trips.
You could also pursue hobbies like cooking, which is something that many people do at home anyway.
If you feel like getting more into charity work or activism for your local community, or if there is an event coming up that relates to one of your passions, you can use this opportunity as an excuse to spend time with these coworkers outside of work hours and get closer together.
3. Be kind and generous with your time.
If you want to make friends at work, start by being kind and generous with your time. This can mean offering to help someone out when they need it or listening intently when they’re talking about something important to them. People are drawn to those who are good listeners, so be the friend that others want in their corner.
4. Don’t follow your “type” too closely.
A lot of people, especially introverts, tend to only want to hang out with other people who are similar to them.
This is a mistake.
Just because someone shares some of your personality traits doesn’t mean that you should be friends with them. You might like the same movies or share similar hobbies, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get along well enough for a friendship to form.
As an introvert myself, I know how difficult it can be for me sometimes when I’m just not in the mood for socializing, but I’ve also learned that hanging out with someone who’s as far from you as possible on the introverted-extroverted spectrum can make all the difference.
5. Meet up outside of the office.
Meet up outside of the office. It’s always easier to make friends when you have a common interest, and if you enjoy going out for drinks after work with your colleagues, then great.
If not, consider meeting up in other settings that don’t revolve around work or alcohol. Try a museum or art gallery together (I’m sure there are plenty located near your office).
Or maybe try grabbing some coffee or lunch at the local park on Sunday afternoons, there’s nothing quite like getting outdoors to start making new friends, especially when it feels like such an indulgence.
You might even be able to find some fun activities online through Meetup groups or Facebook events; if not, there are many other ways to meet people that don’t require any extra effort on your part.