Encouraging friendships in the workplace can transform organizations by increasing productivity, motivation, and innovation. Studies show that employees with close work friends are more engaged, satisfied, and likely to feel connected to their company. Groups of friends also outperform groups of acquaintances on tasks like commitment, communication, and evaluation of ideas. When employees are highly satisfied with life at work, their individual and team output increases substantially. Fostering team-building activities and opportunities for employees to form strong relationships can spark positive changes that benefit both employees and their work.

1. THE
OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK
POSITIVE EFFECTS
HOW FRIENDSHIPS CAN TRANSFORM YOUR WORKPLACE
Stronger, more cooperative teams. Increased productivity, motivation, and innovation.
Happier and more engaged employees.
WHAT LEADER WOULDN'T WANT TO INSPIRE
THESE CHANGES IN THEIR WORKFORCE?
Luckily, there's an easy way you can ignite them throughout
your organization: encourage friendship in the workplace.
A study by the University of Pennsylvania and the
University of Minnesota revealed that when tasked with
diverse work projects, groups of friends were better
than groups of acquaintances at:
Committing at the
start of the project
Communicating
throughout the
activity
Offering both
encouragement and
feedback
Evaluating ideas
critically
A Gallup State of the American Workforce Report found that:
Employees with a best friend at work are
5x more likely to feel a strong connection
to their company and 7x more likely to fully
engage at work than employees without a
best friend.
Plus, close work friendships
boost employee satisfaction by 50%.
A global employee survey found that
discussing success with colleagues was
4x more likely to be considered a form
of motivation than a cause of jealousy.
WHY?
ALSO:
Having good friends at work makes a tremendous difference in
employee satisfaction, loyalty, and productivity.
And a recent O.C. Tanner Health and Wellness Study shows that employees
who highly rank their current satisfaction at work also have high
individual work output. When employees rank their satisfaction with life at
work as a 0 on a 0-10 scale, they produce ONLY 56% WORK OUTPUT.
But employees who give their life at work a 10 produce an impressive
80% WORK OUTPUT. And the positive effect of one team member’s
happiness at work even extends to improving the team’s overall work
output as well.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100
Invest in your teams and ignite innovation by providing
team-building activities, outings, inter-departmental
competitions, or fun meals throughout your organization.
Encourage your employees to form close friendships, and
you'll set off the chain reaction that leads to great work.
JOIN US AT OCTANNER.COM/BLOG
FOR MORE IDEAS ON HOW TO GET STARTED.
SOURCES:
http://www.gallup.com/services/178514/state-american-workplace.aspx
http://www.fastcompany.com/3045542/the-future-of-work/from-honesty-to-clothing-choices-ho
w-employees-really-feel-about-work-now
http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/12/you-need-a-work-best-friend.html
OCT Wellness Study