Your Career’s Secret Weapon: A Best Friend at Work
Gallup’s research shows that having a best friend at work is the best predictor of whether someone is engaged in their job. Yes, we have all heard that. Do we believe it? I do! My best friend, Julissa, who this entire week is dedicated to because she is so special – has been my best friend and holding up Advize for years, before we even started. She was an investor a silent marketing consultant, marketing strategist and finally a leading member of the top strategy team here yet most people don’t even know her.
People naturally seek close, trusting relationships—both in life and at work. Having a “best friend” at work isn’t just a feel-good bonus; it’s a key driver of a thriving employee experience. It fuels better communication, deeper commitment, and stronger team outcomes. According to recent Gallup data, the importance of workplace friendships has only grown since the pandemic—despite (or perhaps because of) the rise of remote and hybrid work.
Does a best friend at work matter now more than ever?
The value of having a best friend at work has never been clearer. Humans are wired for connection—and in the workplace, that connection can make or break the employee experience. Since the pandemic, this need for trusted relationships at work has only intensified, especially for healthcare workers, educators, and other front-line employees who faced profound stress and trauma. For many, it was their best friend at work who offered the emotional lifeline to get through the toughest moments.
Take, for instance, a working parent balancing Zoom school and job deadlines. Their best friend at work—someone going through the same chaos—was a source of empathy, humor, and judgment-free encouragement. That kind of bond says, “You’re not in this alone.”
For remote employees, best friends at work become informal guides and accountability partners—someone to ask the “dumb” questions without fear, someone who helps keep you tethered to the team and culture. And when workloads peak, they’re the ones you push a little harder for—not out of obligation, but because you care.
Without that connection, employees can easily drift into isolation. Without someone to check in with, collaborate with, or simply laugh with, performance and morale can slip.
The data backs it up. Gallup has long shown that employees with a best friend at work are:
– More engaged
– More productive
– More likely to innovate and share ideas
– More focused on safety and quality
– More likely to stay with their employer
Since the pandemic, the link between workplace friendships and outcomes like retention, satisfaction, and employee referrals has grown even stronger.
Whether in a cubicle or on a Zoom call, one thing is clear: a best friend at work isn’t a perk. It’s a performance driver.
By Jeanmarie Loria | CEO Advize Health