The older I get, the more I recognize the importance of friendship.
My conviction was reinforced by a study from the University of Pennsylvania. It found when employees do not have friendships among colleagues at their jobs, they tend to care less about the quality of their work and build up feelings of distrust, which can permeate an entire organization.
Owning a couple small corporations allows me to look at this matter from a little different angle. I’ve had a hunch for over 30 years that employees who have fun at work are just plain more productive and creative in their jobs. They give off a glow that finds its way to the bottom line of the organization. For me, it’s easier to have fun when I’m interacting with another human being who I enjoy.
It’s not that difficult to set up circumstances at work that encourage co-worker friendships. I can honestly say I consider almost all of my colleagues friends. They make me smile a bunch.
If this simple concept is successful in the workplace, it must have even greater application in our personal lives and in retirement, where we have greater control over our social interactions.