Mike’s #BeIntentional — 34

Never underestimate the power of friendships in the workplace. I have heard people say, “We don’t have to be friends to work well together. In fact, we don’t even have to like each other.” That may be true, but where’s the fun in that?

Studies show there is a positive correlation between friendships in the workplace and higher productivity and employee engagement scores. While the existence of friends in the workplace is viewed positively by experts, they warn about friendships between bosses and the people who report to them.

I respectively disagree. The core elements of friendship are trust, transparency and vulnerability…the same values that undergird the cultures so many companies desire. While I understand the risks of friends in reporting relationships, I think they are far outweighed by the benefits. I work every day with some of my very best friends and could not feel more fortunate to do so. They make me a better leader and a better person.

Be intentional about it…