I saw a quote recently about workplace friendships, and it stopped me mid-scroll. You know the kind. The kind that makes you sit there for a second and think, dang… that’s actually true. It made me realize how grateful I am for the people I work with.
I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last six years of my career at a company that genuinely believes people matter. Not the poster-on-the-wall version of “people matter,” but the real kind. The kind where people show up day after day, year after year, working hard with the intention to do good and do well. Not just for themselves, but because they care about the work, the team, and the people on the receiving end of it.
And honestly? That’s rare.
My coworkers….my friends…are some of the smartest, brightest, most genuine humans I know. These relationships aren’t forced. No one assigns you a “friend” during onboarding. You choose each other. Slowly, deliberately, over shared deadlines, stressful mornings, long days, and the occasional chaos that comes with real work and real responsibility.
Work friendships are different from any other kind of relationship. You see people in every season. You see them stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, and exhausted. You see vulnerability and tough days that no highlight reel would ever include. But you also see the wins. The promotions. The pride. The bravery. The quiet moments of joy after something hard finally clicks. You see the whole human.
And not every working relationship is sunshine and laughs. Some are hard. Some are uncomfortable. Some test your patience and your growth in ways you didn’t sign up for. But those relationships matter too. Maybe even more than we realize in the moment.
They teach resilience.
They teach patience.
They teach respect and forgiveness.
They teach you how to lead yourself when it would be easier not to.
Growth rarely happens in comfort. Unfortunately. (Would love to file a complaint about that.)
Over the years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to build real connections with my teammates. These are the people who give advice when you ask for it… and sometimes when you definitely did not. The group chats that start your day with laughter. The phone calls after long days to unpack the heavy stuff. The dinners, the celebrations, the intentional time spent together outside of work. Those are the moments that stick. Because at some point, the relationship quietly shifts. You stop being “people who work together” and become people who genuinely care about each other’s lives.
More like family than coworkers.
No matter what role I’ve held or what title sat next to my name, I’ve always valued people first. I’ve never believed in looking at others through the lens of hierarchy. Titles don’t make someone more human than the person sitting next to them. Everyone is just a person. A person you get the opportunity to connect with…..if you choose to.
And that part matters. It’s a choice.
I’ve always believed in investing in people. Lifting them up. Reminding them they matter, regardless of their role. Everyone deserves respect, time, opportunity, and grace in the workplace. What they do with that is up to them, but the opportunity should always exist.
All relationships in life matter and deserve respect. But the ones you choose intentionally, the ones you prioritize with purpose, those are the ones that take root in your heart.
And if you’re lucky, you’ll find a few of those at work.
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