How do you go from “work friend” to “actual friend”?

It’s not an easy transition. You’re friends with someone and you go out with them with other work folks. You get a bite with them for lunch. You randomly see them outside of work for the first time to get a lager out. Are you friends with them yet?

What constitutes that you are legitimately an actual friend and no longer a work friend?

I’m going to throw out a few occasions that you do not do with a work friend and in turn signifies your states as real friend:

1) A whole meal of food outside of work hours - If you go out for a dinner or weekend brunch that means you’re a legit non-work friend. Give yourself a pat on the back, actually don’t, I hate when people do that. Give yourself a hug, actually that worse. Just be proud of yourself, you’ve overcome the work friend title.

2) A concert/comedy show - In other words, a show of some kind. You might be moving outside of JUST friends, you might be catapulting from work friend to something more than standard friends, with this outing. Good for you, that is if you wanted that. If you didn’t, well then, bravely run away.

3) House sit for them - If they’re away from town and trust you not to raid their place or sleep with someone in their bed when left alone, then they’re a true friend. Housesitting is a big time responsibility, so they tell me. Never been asked to do it for someone before. Does that tell me something?

4) Aren’t embarrassed to introduce you to their friends - If you’re just a work friend, sometimes you’re not going to get the intro to the amigos/amigas. Why? They’re naturally embarrassed of you. It’s okay, you now know your place as work friend. If they are comfortable introducing you to their friends, then you definitely transcend the work friend title.

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Any others that I’m missing? Let’s keep it clean everybody, I mean, I think there are a few ways of knowing if you’re no longer just a work friend, but BTAM is a family-friendly publication.

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Cheers,

Brad

29 August 2011 ·