Check It At The Door…Or Not?
We all have good days and bad days. And on the days when things are spiraling downward in our personal lives, it can be challenging to leave the drama behind and put on a brave face the moment we enter the workplace.
It’s been said that if you want to maintain professionalism at work, you should learn to separate your personal life from your professional life and never let the two overlap. But what if introducing the right aspects of your personal life to your work friends proved to be a good thing? Maybe there’s no need to switch off your emotions like a robot whenever you walk through those office doors.
Bringing drama to work is one thing, but showing people at work what you are passionate about outside of the office is another. Telling your colleagues about your dead-beat ex who keeps calling you or your roommate who hasn’t paid her share of the rent could make them uncomfortable. They may even judge you for not being able to handle your affairs more maturely.
On the other hand, sharing that you love thrift shops or volunteer at an animal shelter on the weekends may help you discover that someone in your office knows where to go for chic vintage finds or someone who wants to adopt a rescue pet.
Camaraderie is a powerful thing. Without it, teams wouldn’t function as harmoniously. No one feels as invested in the outcome of a project when they feel disconnected from the people they work with.
Research has shown that people who work in places with others they consider friends are happier in general. This happiness trickles into their performance at work. It improves their attendance and participation in corporate events. When employees have friends at the office, their job feels more worthwhile, fun, satisfying, and it doesn’t feel quite like work.
And at some point, you may start to consider some people you work with more than just office acquaintances. You stop introducing them as “my friend from work” and recognize them for who they are – your friend. They’re the ones that you can trust with your personal dramas and may support you to get through a rough day at work when something personal is affecting you, particularly if you’re not the kind who masks their feelings so well.
So despite the age old adage that you should leave your personal life outside of work, decades of study have shown that people who have forged friendships in the work environment make for stronger teams. Even the most successful leaders know the value of having someone to trust and confide in. And the most satisfied people are the ones who don’t need to burn bridges, seclude themselves to avoid letting people too close, or fake a face.
Dr. Yashima White Azilove
I am an international speaker, certified coach and skilled consultant with over 20 years of corporate brand communications executive experience in the media, entertainment, healthcare and financial service industries. I now use my expertise in brand communications to ELEVATE audiences, corporations, celebrity/talent and faith organizations.