I Have A Best Friend At Work
OK, I have to admit that 26 postings for head lice versus 6 postings for the state of the nail industry is quite telling. So now I am thinking which topics will bring the most interest and I have come up with nail fungus, dandruff, thinning hair-forget serious stuff!
Since I had only one request to complete the customer engagement questions, I thought I would sidestep to an even bigger subject: employee engagement. According to Gallup, 17% of employees are strongly disengaged from their job and 46% are somewhat disengaged. This suggests that nearly two-thirds of all employees aren’t having fun at work nor contributing valuable ideas and customer success.
I can write hours about engagement but for today, I will focus on one of the 12 questions included in the Gallup Q12 survey: I have a best friend at work.
Now mind you when I was presented this question, I not only laughed but I questioned Gallup why this question is relevant. Their scientists came back to me with their research that clearly stated that those employees that have a best friend at work are happier, enjoy coming to work more often, and tend to be more productive and hence, engaged.
I also asked Gallup what about a good friend at work? They sternly came back and stated that a good friend isn’t loyal enough, it must be a best friend! I mean, how many best friends does one have to begin with; three is a bunch.
For TNG, while we score typically in the 77% percentile for Q12, this question has always been tough to score high on. But after two and half years struggling with this question, I hate to say that Gallup is right on. That is one reason why we have teams, company events, mentors and so forth.
In salons and spas, this question is quite relevant. Best friends tend to stay together so when one leaves the salon, the other typically leaves and when one decides to stay, the other stays. To keep salon talent motivated, this question becomes a key to success and lack of turnover.
My question to you today is: Do you have a best friend of work and what do you think of Gallup’s position on this question.
Happy Thursday!
August 14th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I do have a best friend at work, actually I have more than one…I am very lucky. I think that my best friend(s) keeps me focused on my job as well as having fun while doing it. I look forward to coming to work because I enjoy what I do and I love the people I work with.
My best friend(s) make me smile, laugh, cry, learn, ponder and innovate. Without them, I feel that my day would not be complete. I think this is a great question as well as a great idea to have……how many of your friends (outside of TNG) can say that they have a best friend a work? Not many that I know of.
Have a great one!
August 14th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I don’t always have time to respond to all the blogs, I wish I could though. I put alot of thought into responding. When I get busy I lose my track of thought and then I forget. WooHoo! (-;
I don’t have a best friend but I love coming to work. So what can I say?!
I receive & put out alot of positive energy from the people around me, it’s great!
August 14th, 2008 at 11:52 am
This is an easy one. YES!!! I love the girls I work with. As far as a best friend (Kelly) I think I am pretty close to the mark. I could go on with a long list of those who make my day that much better and brighter, but I think these ladies know they are special. Every job that I have worked for I have had someone very close to me work there. Me and my best friend worked at 4 jobs together spanning from the age of 16 (my very first job) to 18. It’s also nice when you can share with someone and push each other to do the best at what you do. I appreciate my job everyday because of the atmosphere and huge smiling faces I see. I watch other coworkers with there co-worker best friends and it is a good feeling to know that my job has so many who have the same thing I do. Great friends!
August 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
The nature of the word best, limits itself to one. You can not have more than one best. I not only have a best friend at work, I happen to be married to her.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I definitely have a best friend at work! If it weren’t for TNG we probably never would have met, so; I am very thankful for that! We are there for each other when times are tough, to vent and motivate each other to keep going. And, we are there for each other to share in our successes. It’s so nice to know that you have this person there for you, it really keeps you motivated. I think it’s extremely relevant to employee engagement! I do think I also have alot of “good” friends at work also. All the members of my team help me out everyday, and it would be very difficult to do my job without them!
August 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I have a best friend at work…and she knows who she is. And I think everyone else knows as well..LOL! We wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for TNG. So it’s a great thing that we work for an amazing company
August 14th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Great article today. I am visiting regularly for great ideas from you that I can plagerize. HA HA
August 14th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Are you kidding me, I completely agree with Gallup and the idea behind the question. Remember back in high school… feeling akward, not having a person to lean on or back you up. If that was you, school sucked! On the other hand, what about those “popular” people with all their friends. So happy in the halls, joking, having that safety in numbers thing, getting invited to parties etc.
The same idea applies to work. Especially for women. We like our group, we bounce ideas, opinions. We vent, we laugh, we innovate the list goes on and on. Men like the comfort of a pal too, but women almost need it.
So my best friend at work helps me feel welcome and apart of something. If i need help, advice, an opinion or a smilling face I can get it. Which in turn relieves stress, insecurities and makes those tough days not so tuff, or at least bareable. I look forward to coming to work, even if it’s just to not let them down.
So thanks best friend!!!
August 14th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Hi Frank, how are you????
I have a best friend at work and she makes the day fly by. Plus, we are able to team up and come up with great ideas together! It helps to have someone that understands what you are going through. We help each other out when we have questions, problems, etc.!!
August 14th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I think it is very important to have a best friend at work. It makes the difficult days easier, and the good days even better. It gives you someone to talk to, someone to have lunch with, someone to relate to when it comes to work. I can remember one of my first jobs… I would sit and have lunch by myself, and I hated it. I didn’t have anyone working with me that I enjoyed talking to or working with, and I dreaded coming in every day. I am so lucky to have my best friend at work. We’ve even become best friends outside of work!
August 14th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Working from a remote location keeps me from being able to say absolutely– but I do feel I have good friends over the phone and by email who challenge me, inspire me and help me. I think it’s important to have those things to keep your job interesting, evolving and fun!
PS-Hi FEH
August 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I think it is nice to have a best friend at work. Sometimes you need someone to talk to at work about issues you are experiencing. A best friend or colleague may see things differently than you. It may help you to take a second look at the situation you may think is an issue when it may be nothing at all. Also, when you have someone who keeps you motivated at work, it helps the work day go by a little smoother.
August 14th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I don’t think having a best friend is the best idea as is dating in the workplace, I do believe having trust in the person you work with and having a great relationship is more practical.
I have a great relationship with my co-workers and I trust them, and this company is a great place lots of trust and relationships can be made, but when it comes to being professional there should always be a line of friendship and a work relationship!
Unless your LG and are married to your best friend, then that is an exception!! Yay!!
August 14th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I don’t really think I have a best friend in life, except for my husband. However, I have been in business for 12 years working in my salon alone. I have never had a coworker. But I will say that many of my customers have truly become my friends. I’m invited to their kids’ weddings, showers, etc. and they have had showers for my girls when they got married. When my dad died, many of them reached out to me and kept me going. I have attended a few of their funerals. I have had the same customers all these years and often have a new one added. Most of my customers drive a distance to come to my shop and so if I didn’t do their nails, I wouldn’t be able to see them. When the day comes that I finally close my shop, I will miss my customers more than I will miss their fingernails!
August 14th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
There are 18 of us at work and I can honestly say that we are best friends. I have three girls that have been there over 18 years. We have shop meetings at someone’s house every 4 weeks and two “girls day out” trips a year. Because we are best friends, we help each other and there is no competition. We are truly blessed.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Isn’t this wonderful?!!!
August 16th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I would like to say that I do have a couple best friends at work. If it wasn’t for Working at TNG, one I would have never met!! I don’t have a lot of friends in general outside of work, just a close few. I don’t trust easily. But knowing that I can come to work, and not only love being around the people that I work with everyday, I also have that “best friend” that I can call when I just need to take a minute to talk. They totally get it! (Big shout out to Shai-Shai and Am-Beezy!!)
I understand why this is such an important question for Gallup, because honestly, to work with people that you like, let alone your best friend, is extremly important to your engagement within the company, or even your overall attitude towards work.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Definitely have a BFAW. Starting around the same time, and growing together has definitely been the ticket to our success’s. Plus the support is dynamic.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:08 am
How did you manage to dig this up? Two thumbs up! Any mailing list or forum that you recommend on this subject?