4 Ways to Keep Work Friends From Hurting Your Career

4 Ways to Keep Work Friends From Hurting Your Career Research has shownthe powerful benefits of having friends at work. People who have friends at work are bedrngnis only more engaged, but their organizations are more profitable than those in which close friendships are less common.As you invest more time into finding your dream career, its inevitable that the lines between your personal and professional life blur, often out of necessity. A tough day at the office may end with drinks and trading stories with a trusted co-worker. Or you find yourselfchatting with your team on Slack from your yoga mat before class begins.But sometimes things can get tricky when your professional and personal life mix.While its as important as ever to build a strong network and surround yourself with supportive people, the foundation ofall healthy relaionships rests on creating clear boundaries.Heres a few essential rules to navigating friendships in todays workplace1. Address any awkwardness If you end up managing your friends,the best thing you can do is confront the situation head on. You could say something along the lines of, Since Ive become your supervisor, our relationship has changed, and I know things can feel a little awkward at times. However you motto it, dont put this conversation off. Also recognize its okay if you dont have all the answers. Feel free to say something like, Have you felt a shift, too? From your perspective, whats changed? Then be honest that youre not entirely clear on how your friendship will play out with this new dynamic. Its important to be truthful. Its okay to be vulnerable.2. Make them your friendtor Having friends who are as committed to career growth as you are can help you be better at your job and happier in your personal life.Enter thefriendtor. One of the best people you can have in your social arsenal is an honest, trustworthy friend who can double as a professional mentorsomeone you can turn to not only for fun times and memories, but alsofor advice and support in your career.3. Be a connector Suggest otherbei connections you have who you think your work friend would like to get to know. Similarly, ask her to introduce you to a few contacts of her own. This will make it easier to keep your relationship blossoming, but with less pressure to sustain each others emotional needs.4. Draw the line if you have to As soon as you feel a work friendship blossoming, gently make it clear what youre looking for. Ifyoure totallyinvested in getting a promotion, you mayhave to make it very clear that youre focusing on your career at the moment.You may find that its easier to limit social contact with work friends to professional settings. For example, follow a rule of thumb that youll go out for drinks after a big client presentation or hard day at the office,butinvitingthemout to a dinneron a weekend with your college friends is off-limits.While making new friends is exciting and fun, throwing the professional component into t he mix can add a layer of complexity. Implementing these tips will help you define the relationship on your terms and keep it functioning at an optimal level for both of you.--Melody Wilding is a coach andlicensed social workerwho helps ambitious high-achievers manage the emotional aspects of having a successful career. Her clients include CEOs and C-level executives at top Fortune 500 companies such as Google and HP, as well as media personalities, startup founders, and entrepreneurs across industries. She also teaches Human Behavior at Hunter College in NYC. Get free tools to grow your career confidence atmelodywilding.com.A version of this article originally appeared onmelodywilding.com