10 Qualities You Need to Form Great Friendships at Work

Everyone should have a best friend in the office. After all, research shows that friendships at work can be beneficial to our careers. “One of the things that contribute to positive inner work life is a sense of camaraderie with teammates and close co-workers—a sense of bonding and mutual trust,” says Harvard Business School professor and The Progress Principle co-author Teresa Amabile.

Amabile explains that having a positive inner work life can boost our productivity and creativity. In addition, building good relationships with our colleagues helps foster teamwork and strong company culture.

Furthermore, befriending colleagues can help you expand your professional network. Even if you eventually part ways, former co-workers may turn into connections who can point you toward new career opportunities. They can also become a bridge for you to form partnerships or collaborations with other companies.

How to Be a More Likeable Colleague

But how do you go about this if being sociable doesn’t come to you naturally? Anyone can learn how to become likeable in the workplace—it all comes down to developing the right qualities. Develop the following traits and you’ll be everyone’s favourite colleague in no time:

Open

Being receptive to different perspectives is an important quality that enhances teamwork and productivity. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should agree to everything and be a pushover. It simply means respecting different opinions and having the humility to accept constructive criticism of your work. You don’t have to agree with them, but peer reviews can be a great way to improve and grow.

In line with this, you can demonstrate your openness to people’s input by practising active listening. This involves giving colleagues your full attention when they’re speaking. Instead of immediately reacting, focus on what your co-worker is trying to say and take note of their tone and body language. Make sure you understand the message they’re trying to get across before you respond. After all, everybody likes a good listener.

Flexible

Adaptability to change is the key to continued growth, particularly for creative working environments and competitive industries. It’s now more important than ever to keep up with the rapid pace of technological developments. Being open to learning new ways of doing things, new systems, and new workflows makes you easier to work with – and therefore more likeable.

Flexibility also means you can adjust to a sudden change of plans, from new industry developments to direction from higher-ups and feedback from clients. Managing to switch gears without complaint will serve you well in the workplace. 

Accountable

Accountability is taking ownership of your work and responsibilities. It tells your team members that they can rely on you to get the job done when you say you will. It shows integrity and trustworthiness when you hold yourself accountable to deadlines and delivery standards, particularly when you own up to mistakes and focus on the big picture rather than making excuses for why you dropped the ball.

Self-Starter

A person's initiative says a lot about one’s character. Being quick on your feet to pick up the slack when you see your team members struggling with a task, or simply pitching in with fresh ideas and constructive feedback without being asked to do so will earn you brownie points with the team. Everyone appreciates a helpful team member!

Team player

Show what a stellar team player you are by staying focused on the job and prioritising the company’s goals. Don’t get sidetracked by office politics and taking sides. That’s not what you’re paid to do. Your teammates will respect you more for it and appreciate your professionalism.

Another important aspect of being a team player is acknowledging your officemates’ contributions to a project. After all, no one likes a co-worker who takes all the credit. If a higher-up praises you for an idea or insight that isn’t yours, be honest enough to give due credit to your colleague. 

Empathetic

Showing empathy for your fellow workers when they’re facing personal or professional problems makes a bigger difference than you might realise. After all, just the simple fact that someone else cares about what you’re going through makes you feel appreciated and helps alleviate your stress. Empathy also helps form a bond between you and your co-workers, fostering greater trust and mutual respect.

Problem-Solver

Ever noticed how some people automatically start pointing fingers when a problem occurs? This defensive reaction does absolutely nothing to solve the problem and is counter-productive in so many ways. It’s important to identify the cause of the problem to prevent a recurrence, but the priority should be on solving the problem and damage control, rather than naming and shaming. Wow, your team members with your creative problem-solving skills and you’ll instantly become their favourite go-to person.

Thoughtful

Bringing treats to the office is a great way to get on everyone's good side. Bake a batch of cookies, brownies, or cupcakes, and share them with your officemates. Consider giving out simple gifts on holidays as well. For instance, you can celebrate International Friendship Day—which falls on the 30th of July—by giving your co-workers simple tokens of friendship. You can opt for items that will help them destress, such as scented candles or heating pads, or hand out personalized presents such as coffee mugs.

Another way to demonstrate thoughtfulness is to take the time to notice and compliment your colleagues’ work. After all, showing colleagues that you appreciate them is a great way to build a good working relationship. For example, you can congratulate a teammate on a particularly well-done presentation. 

Optimistic

No one likes a complainer. And while it’s normal to feel stressed or even angry at work, taking it out on your colleagues is a big no-no. So it’s important to learn to control your anger in healthy ways. 

Part of being professional is maintaining a pleasant demeanour. And having a positive, can-do attitude can help motivate the team and raise everyone’s morale. You do not have to force yourself to be cheerful regardless of the situation. Rather, it’s being solutions-oriented and hopeful that things will improve, even during tough times. 

Sociable

Smile and greet your colleagues when you arrive at the office, or turn your camera on during online meetings. Put some effort into getting to know your officemates as well. According to Inc, it’s important to “get past the small talk.” Ask your co-workers about their hobbies and their families. Find out what they’re passionate about, and open up about your interests. By doing this, you can find common ground on which you can build a friendship. 

When it comes to developing the qualities listed above, consistency and authenticity are key. There’s no need to have a smile plastered on your face 24/7, or to shower compliments on your co-workers if you don’t mean them. It can backfire if people sense that you’re being insincere. 

Therefore, make sure that your efforts to befriend people are genuine. By showing real concern and compassion for your colleagues, you can form lasting friendships at work and create an enjoyable office environment for everyone.

Learn more about developing good relationships with your colleagues by checking out our Career Resources page. To apply for a job now, visit JobStreet or download the app on App Store and Google Play.