The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Why firm friends are so important
Do you feel it’s important to have good relationships at work? Well, according to new research, more than half (55.2%) of Scots state that they have genuine friends in the workplace.
The study, which surveyed more than 2,000 UK professionals, also reveals the cities where professionals are most likely to have friends at work, and finds that Glasgow is one of the friendliest cities in Scotland to work in:
1. Belfast – 90.9%
2. Cardiff – 73.3%
3. Lincoln – 72.7%
4. Birmingham – 72.6%
5. Brighton – 69.6%
6. Cambridge – 69.2%
7. Leeds – 68.6%
8. Newcastle – 66.7%
9. Liverpool – 65.5%
10. Glasgow – 62.2%
What’s more, some other cities around the nation weren’t as fortunate when it came to genuine friendships in the workplace, with Aberdeen (41.7%) and Edinburgh (57.9%) falling outside of the top 10. The research was conducted by CV-Library, a leading independent UK job board.
Lee Biggins, CEO and founder of CV-Library, said: “Even with Valentine’s Day well behind us, love is in the air for workers in Scotland, especially if you’re based in Glasgow.
“As we spend the majority of our time at work, not having any genuine friends can feel very isolating.
“While it’s tough to push yourself out of your comfort zone and have conversations with your colleagues, it’s a great way to build positive relationships; and your confidence will grow with it!”
The research also reveals that nearly three in five (57.6%) Scots believe it’s important to be liked at work; with this number rising to 59.5% in Glasgow and 66.7% for workers in Aberdeen but falling to 55.6% in Edinburgh.
Additionally, the study finds that more than half (58.2%) of Scots worry about disappointing their manager while a further 56.7% fret about letting their team down.
What’s more, nearly a third (31%) of Scots worry about not having friends at work. This stat rises to a staggering 57.1% in Aberdeen and 42.9% in Edinburgh, while it falls to just 14.3% in Glasgow.
Lee added: “It’s a fact of life that you’re not going to be liked by everyone at work. However, you shouldn’t let this get you down.
“Try not to worry too much about it; focus on being yourself and doing a good job. Everybody makes mistakes, but it’s important to use them as learning opportunities.
“Always ask for feedback, as it’s a great way to show proactiveness, maturity and a willingness to succeed! Plus, it could help you form strong working relationships.”
Feeling like you don’t belong at work can be tough, having friends is part of what can make your job so enjoyable. It’s important that if you feel isolated, because you don’t have any friends at work or all of your other work friends have now moved on, then you need to act quickly.
By pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, greeting your colleagues and striking up conversations, you’ll create more genuine friendships at work. While it may feel awkward at first, it’ll definitely help your wellbeing and enjoyment in your job.