What if you don’t have friends at work?

<p>When I asked, “Is it important to have friends at work?” (<a href='https://youtu.be/9egtuaT11y8'>https://youtu.be/9egtuaT11y8</a>)? This panel unanimously agreed that it is very important.</p> <p> </p> <p>The question of what if you don’t have friends at work followed so naturally that we had to get together again to discuss it.</p> <p> </p> <p>Dave Roberts started us of by saying if you don’t have friends at work, you can at least be friendly, collegial and cooperative. That could help you get a promotion or develop friendships.</p> <p> </p> <p>Glady Baradaran thinks that leaders have a role in helping their employees develop friendships.</p> <p> </p> <p>Todd Karges pointed out that there are benefits to an organization for its employees to be friends and in that case, he agrees that it should be intentional. But he also noted that he has worked with people who didn’t have friends at work and that was because they weren’t open to making friends.</p> <p> </p> <p>All of that said, I have been in situations where my friendliness was taken advantage of and people just dumped their work on me.</p> <p> </p> <p>Is it a big deal not to have friends at work? If someone doesn’t, should they go out of their way to create them?</p> <p> </p> <p>Connect with the panelists: Glady Baradaran: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/glady-baradaran-6238071a/'>https://www.linkedin.com/in/glady-baradaran-6238071a/</a></p> <p>15 years of HR experience and a love for organizational development. Based in Canada.</p> <p> </p> <p>Todd Karges: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddkarges/</p> <p>Has a background in project management and building agile development mindsets.  He is a transformation and change management practitioner and a leadership development coach. Based outside of Toronto.</p> <p> </p> <p>Dave Roberts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-roberts-56690513/</p> <p>Teacher, co-author of the book When the Psychology Professor Met the Minister and a bereavement support specialist</p> <p> </p> <p>Dr Robyn Odegaard: <a href='https:/