Relatedness at work

In SDT, satisfaction of the basic needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness is considered as a crucial condition for individuals’ thriving. The need for relatedness is defined as individuals’ inherent propensity to feel connected to others, that is, to be a member of a group, to love and care and be loved and cared for. The need for relatedness is satisfied when people experience a sense of communion and develop close and intimate relationships with others.

The assumption that individuals have the natural tendency to integrate themselves in the social matrix and benefit from being cared for is equally emphasized in developmental approaches such as Attachment Theory. It is consistent with concepts in organizational psychology such as social support and loneliness at work.

A friend in the workplace doesn’t necessarily have to be your very closest friend, but if you do share your working day with someone you can trust and rely on, both of you will find the working day much more palatable. Of course, making friends at work isn’t always easy, but by following a few simple tips, you could find you have new friends in no time at all.

Participate
In many offices and workplaces, there are all sorts of social events and after-hours clubs that you could join, in order to meet colleagues socially, and make friends.

Take small steps
Simple things like greeting colleagues in a friendly way at the start of the day, or offering to make the tea, can break the ice and form the basis for a long-lasting friendship.

Find what you have in common
Listening to colleagues can help you to discover what things you might have in common. Talking about these things will help build a rapport between you, with the conversation flowing easily if it’s about things you both enjoy.

Keep work friendships in the workplace
Think very carefully about suggesting any kind of activity outside of working hours. It might be tempting to suggest a meal out one evening, for example, but such an invitation could easily be misinterpreted.

Don’t over-share
It can be tempting to reveal all sorts of personal details about your life, in an effort to make friends with someone. In fact, this can have the opposite effect, it’s far better to stick to topics like sport, holidays and pastimes at first

Don’t get drawn into negative interactions
Every workplace has its fair share of office politics and gossip, but if you want to build a meaningful friendship with a colleague, it’s important to steer clear of this kind of negativity.

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Huffington Post