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| Brought to you by Alex Panas, global leader of industries, & Axel Karlsson, global leader of functional practices and growth platforms
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| Friendship theories continue to spread on social media. As the name suggests, these philosophies theorize about the numbers and types of friends people can—or should—have and how these relationships form and evolve. And in true internet fashion, each theory has its own silly (if not confusing) name, including the snail theory, Dunbar’s theory, OG besties, and North Star besties.
A key audience for this content includes Gen Zers, who report lower levels of emotional and social well-being compared with older generations. This is why it’s important for Gen Zers to remember that they can form strong, meaningful relationships at work and that they can find connection and purpose in their jobs. Maybe it’s even time to stop debating whether to skip that end-of-the-year office gathering? As McKinsey senior partner Arne Gast and his coauthor put it in their recent article on effective leadership, “Humans are relational beings, not independent automatons.” Work friends can act as sounding boards for critical decisions, offer different perspectives, and challenge personal assumptions. One former CEO that Gast and his coauthor interviewed for the article pointed to her “kitchen cabinet” of advisers, who helped her think through sensitive business issues.
Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a Gen Zer who’s just starting your career, you should be prepared to review and update your “personal operating model,” which includes your approach to workplace relationships. Career milestones are often an apt moment to pause for reflection, Gast and his coauthor advise.
Having relationships with coworkers can also reduce the stress that inevitably arises in any job, according to Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and the author of The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, in a McKinsey Author Talks interview. Waldinger advises people to take stock of both their work and personal relationships by asking a few key questions, including “What do you have already, and what are you getting from different relationships?”
That’s good advice for Gen Zers at work, who may be just starting to build office friendships. When forming new bonds with your peers, it helps to identify an activity that you enjoy and can do with your coworkers. It’s easier to forge authentic connections over a shared interest, Waldinger says.
As for existing relationships, reconnecting can be as simple as sending an email acknowledging a team member’s recent work or asking to get a coffee. Ultimately, think of these bonds like you would your personal fitness, Waldinger says: “I don’t go to the gym today and then come home and say, ‘Good. I’m done. I don’t ever have to do that again.’ The same is true with relationships.”
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| | | —Edited by Alexandra Mondalek, editor, New York
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