If you have been lucky enough to have a “work spouse,” then you know how critical that relationship is to your day-to-day life and overall wellbeing. It’s that one person, or select few people, that you talk to all day long, brainstorm about the best solution to a problem, complain about the latest ridiculous form you now need to complete, and go to for support, encouragement, and the best belly laughs. They are the people you can be fully yourself with and let your “professional guard” down. They are your “ride-or-die” and you can’t image going to work every day without them…until that sad day comes.
The benefits of a work BFF are obvious and endless. Studies show that employee satisfaction scores skyrocket 50% when a worker has developed a close relationship on the job. It has also been proven that workers with close relationships at the office engage better with internal and external stakeholders, have a greater sense of belonging and higher retention, are more innovative and share ideas, are more productive, and have a lot more fun.
But what happens when there’s a shake-up at work and your closest teammates want to pursue new and exciting opportunities? Or when your favorite manager gets promoted and moved to a new team? Breaking up is not easy in our personal lives nor is it easy on our professional lives. We come to rely on those relationships in a significant way, and when someone moves on to a bigger and better opportunity it can feel very bittersweet – there may even be some tears. On one hand, you wish your friends well and sincerely want the best for them. On the other hand, there will be a void in your workday, and you will deeply miss your go-to person or tight-knit band of colleagues. As the saying goes, the only constant is change and that is also true when it comes to a professional breakup. No one stays in one place, or in one position, forever.
Follow the ON Point Action Plan to help navigate the heartbreak of a professional breakup.
7 Ways to Deal with a Breakup at Work
Be Aware of Both – acknowledge the fact that you can feel both happy & sad, excited for them & disappointed for yourself, at the same time
Wish Them Well – regardless of how sad you may feel as they move onto a new team or organization, you need to bust out the pom-poms & cheer them on
Appreciate the Gifts – think about & be grateful for how much you have grown & for everything you have learned & experienced with that person or people
Seize the Opportunity – sometimes when your work BFF moves on, it’s an ideal time for you to shine on your own, increase your visibility, lean in & step up
Stay in Touch – it may not be the same, but make sure to keep that relationship & connection strong; never know when the band may get back together again
Focus on Yourself – as others move on, this allows you to dig deep & ask yourself the big questions; what’s the next step in my career or what do I want to do?
Branch Out – it’s easy to hang out with your favorite people & others often get neglected; time to broaden your reach & cultivate other strong relationships
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