The Importance of Work Friends

As new grads enter the workforce, they should know the importance of bonding with workmates. What can they gain? The New York Times recently quoted a few things a professional woman learned at her first job decades ago:

• How to take feedback from a boss without compromising on her ideas.
• How to have fun at the office holiday party without getting too drunk.
• How to know when you found the perfect life partner.

Employers like their workers bonding too because (according to the New York Times) “workplace friendships benefit productivity. People with a best friend at work are more engaged in their jobs. Their organizations have fewer accidents, happier customers and higher profits. Workplace friendships, in other words, are good for business.”

But the Wall Street Journal finds Americans are now “breaking up” with work friends as they get busier or go remote: “Many workers say that forging office friendships has become harder and less of a priority over the past two years, during which millions of working Americans changed jobs or worked from home.” The NYT reports especially “[t]hose early-career friendships have become something of an endangered species. For some young people, including those who work in industries like tech and law that have yet to fully return to the office, work life now means taking videocalls from bed. They have yet to meet their co-workers in person — let alone form the relationships that feel most consequential at the start of a career.”

Work friends are hugely important to your legal career! At my first job at WSGR, I worked long hours with other associates — we asked each other clueless questions in the beginning, shared meals, and went to firm events together. I especially appreciate this group of people who knew me as a first year and who now are GCs, partners, and experts across practice areas and industries. We still exchange advice and serve as each other’s Kitchen Cabinet.

My top advice to lawyers is to reach out to people. When I was a young attorney I sometimes would turn down group outings – when I think back now, that’s a dumb move. Actively say hello and connect with people at all levels and departments, from the admins, paralegals, IT to the partner or GC. I love the story Jan Kang, a veteran GC, told how she became GC of a Google X company – she had worked with an internal IT person who went on to found Chronicle and reached out to Jan to lead Legal there.

The main lesson to remember: be kind to people and support each other. Your friends will help shape you and look out for you over the length of your career.