Making friends at work has many upsides.

For one, it makes for a fun working day and a less strenuous job.

In addition, it makes it easier to go from beating deadlines to sipping wines once the clock strikes at 5.

In fact, according to research, 58% of men will end up leaving a high-paying job if it meant not getting along with their co-workers. Meanwhile, a staggering percentage of 74% were said the same by women.

That’s a high turnover which can be alarming for the owner of the company. Of course, most of the stakeholders prioritize having a profitable business while many of us dream of being part of a happy workplace. So the reality is both have to find a way to meet in the middle.

How can friendship at work achieve the right balance of engagement and productivity?

Here are some key things for professionals to understand when making friends with colleagues. You’ll also see why sometimes, it’s necessary to put the breaks on office intimacy.

WHEN IS OFFICE FRIENDSHIP GOOD

Collaboration

The number one reason we go to work is to earn us compensation in exchange for our skills. In small companies, you’ll find that some employees tend to juggle between one or two main tasks especially when trying to achieve a certain assignment.

So when it comes to the planning and execution stage, employees who get along the most will have the most natural disposition to work together. Brainstorming ideas becomes easier within a team that understand each other’s core strengths and even weaknesses. And those who are familiar with each other will have no problem stepping up when needed to complete a project.

Sense of camaraderie

While some people don’t consider making friends with everyone at work that important, it’s at least vital to them that they get along with the team in achieving the goals smoothly.

Perhaps these people have one or two persons in their immediate circle in the office they feel most comfortable with. And these persons are then the ones who are friends with others in the office. In this case, there is a continuous link among each other that can forge a corporate culture of lasting relationships.

At the end of the day, it’s more important to be relevant in the office, than to be BFFs with your new colleagues. As long as your priority is working towards the company’s goal, it doesn’t hurt to be friends people you are compatible with in the workplace.

Celebration

When it comes to big and small wins, office holidays or out-of-town trips, occasions have more meaning when you celebrate it with your friends.

Imagine the team going on an end-of-the-year trip as a company incentive with no one wanting to share a room with you. Or having everyone planning Friday night’s drinks and you don’t get asked because they think you can’t be bothered. That’s not really an ideal scenario.

Sometimes It’s not all hard work. You’ve got to reap the benefits too. And even though you have your own set of friends outside of work you can celebrate with, it could also be fun to let loose a little with the people you spend the most time with.

WHEN IS OFFICE FRIENDSHIP BAD

Gossiping

Although you’re entitled to freedom of speech, there is no right time and place to gossip in the office and in life, in general.

First of all, gossiping is not classy. It’s rude practice and reflects poorly in your character. And worse, you take up other people’s time that is meant for them to finish their tasks.

Your office friends may find it funny in the beginning and even return their own version of juicy tales. But later on they will resent you for it and the bad energy you may come back to haunt you once people start gossiping about you instead.

Procrastination

Like what I’ve mentioned, when you act against the best interests of the company such as gossiping, you tend to push aside some things you know you have to be done with. Since you want to please the friendship, you can be easily coerced into not completing tasks.

The worse thing about this is what it comes down to it. When you fail to deliver on your responsibilities, it’s your job that’s on the line, not your office chum. Therefore, before you procrastinate because you have more exciting things to do with a colleague, think about the time instead that saves you from trying to find another job.

Too much familiarity

We are all humans. We possess real emotions with needs that can only be met when we connect with another human being. Just like when work becomes too much of a pressure to bear, the instant reaction we have is to divulge it to the people closest to us. And sometimes, those people we confide are the ones seated right next to us.

While it’s important that we express our real selves, too much familiarity with a colleague can put a strain on the work necessary for the company. What would happen if you were challenged to race among each other to the top of the ranks?

Your friends at work might be totally up for the challenge while you might feel like it’s a personal attack at some point. You could end thinking that he or she can one up you because he knows your weak spots and will use that against you.

So in this case, it’s best that you understand your place and your purpose. You have to learn how to handle your emotions in a way that makes you human and still connect with people.

But then at the same time, you have to remember why you come to work in the first place. You do because you want to be productive. You do because you love to be compensated for your talents and get recognition for it.

Which means that making friends in the office is not your primary goal. The goal is to build a smooth working relationship with those around you, so you can all work together to achieve excellence. When you do, then not only does it satisfy the company as a whole, the team’s success will ultimately resonate with you as an individual.