3 Things About Colleagues and Friends

'House M.D.' was a popular drama series many years back about a brilliant doctor and his team of doctors handling life threatening situations every week. Many life lessons can be learnt from this show alone which turned out to be famous quotes like
'Everybody Lies', "You talk to God, you are religious. God talks to you, you are psychotic!' and many others. But the one with the most impact on me is as follows;

Quote:

"Dr. Allison Cameron: If we want this to not get in the way of our friendship, I think we both have to apologize and put it behind us. 

Dr. Eric Foreman: I like you, really. We have a good time working together. But ten years from now, we're not gonna be hanging out, having dinners. Maybe we'll exchange Christmas cards, say "Hi," give a hug if we're at the same conference. We're not friends, we're colleagues. And I don't have anything to apologize for. "

The above conversation presents a stark reality in life itself. It's very true and very real. In today's corporate world, colleagues are direct rivals who cut each others' throats to climb up that corporate ladder. Back stabbing and rumour spreading are also a common workplace horror story itself.

However, today as i ponder upon a colleague turned friend who left my workplace and many others over the years, i can't help but feel a little nostalgic.

Why it's good to have a colleague who is also a friend.

1) Being Ourself

Very often, working in a corporate environment means having to present ourselves in a corporate manner. We are required to talk nicely, dress appropriately, move smartly. But it's a different thing if our colleague is also our friend! 

We can be ourselves without having to put up a front for fear of being 'not professional' enough or being 'too casual'. We also need not bother about being 'judged'. 

2) We Feel Each Other

Who else but our colleagues understand us when we say we are having a hard time at work. Really. Yes really understand. Whether it's our spouse, our parents or friends, what they can really do is just empathize our predicament. Colleagues know just how nasty our superior or another co-worker is, or how unreasonable that customer is. They just know... 

3) We Gossip

Like it or not, we all gossip. We all spread rumours. But it's all the better if we are gossiping with friends. If not you might end up on the wrong side of the gossip. Right?  

Many of us probably spend more time with our colleagues than with our family, and since we all draw money (salary) from the same bank account, we already have so much in common! So why not make a friend with your co-worker today!