4 Reasons Why Colleagues Become More Like Family

Do you also call the office your home away from home? Is this because of the time you spend there, or because you really feel ‘at home’? For many people, the latter becomes their reality and it’s even not uncommon to refer to their colleagues as their family.

Are we simply trying to make them feel good, or is it really possible to feel close to work peers?

Firstly, let’s be clear: It’s not always a happy work house; Not all offices feel as comfortable to work in as that feeling you get when your grandmother welcomes you with a batch of freshly baked cookies. But statistics show that only 10% of Brits feel disrespected by peers. That means a large percentage of people tend to get respect and affirmation all human beings are in search of.

You may have read a lot of literature about what it takes to build healthy relationships with your biological family members. Have you thought about how some of those methods naturally occur in the work environment?

With these factors automatically at work, no wonder you have your colleagues on speed dial these days.

Time Spent at the Office

More than one self-help book will tell you that spending time together builds relationships. Do you realise you spend most of your waking hours at the office? It’s natural that you’ll know more about their woes than some distant family member’s.

Listening to Each Other

Active listening is a skill many people develop for work environments. While it benefits engagement with clients or subordinates it can also lead to more trusting friendships with colleagues. When active listening leads colleagues to have empathy and give proper advice, it creates strong foundations for future interactions.

Creating a Safe Space

When do you feel comfortable confiding in someone? Perhaps when you feel respected? Many managers cultivate mutual respect—even in the face of vast differences—between their subordinates. This mindset to treat colleagues right for success, isn’t simply to be ‘nice’. This benefits the entire team, enhances productivity and is therefore a vital part of investing in your work force.

Most people know this, as only 2% of Brits believe their success will come from their abilities only. Many other factors determine how your career develops and interaction with your colleagues is one of them.

As you hone these skills there is a natural outflow: Since you’re used to sharing information—without being judged—in that environment, you may find it easier admitting personal difficulties to your colleagues than your family whose reactions you can’t predict.

Experience Conflict Together

Conflict is part of life, but not everyone knows how to manage this. The result of conflict should be mutually beneficial compromises and the issue should be resolved. These discussions often happen in a work environment and therefore colleagues learn how to bicker, have fall outs & resolve the situations at hand.

This moves work relationships from being clinical to becoming personal. You may find it’s even easier to resolve conflict of a personal nature with colleagues you talk to every day, than some family members you don’t often see.

What is the outcome of all of this?

The people you once called colleagues quickly receive different labels, such as ‘friend’, ‘confidante’ and even ‘family’. Best of all is that when you get this right you may even look forward to going to work tomorrow.