The only thing worse than networking...not networking

Recent Glassdoor data from the US shows that over half of workers (53%) prefer not to make friends with colleagues, keeping their personal and professional lives separate.

This worries me, based on my own early career errors (see vlog).

Without friendships at work, I would never have:

• 💍 Met my husband — through a colleague in finance who set us up.

• ✈ Made two of my closest friends — or, perhaps worse, been on tour with Mandy Hickson, introduced by the brilliant Allan Grant.

• ⛷️ Learnt to ski on a work/social trip — no one who’s seen me ski needs to comment on whether being able to tumble down an easy blue counts as skiing.

• 🌊 Gone white water rafting in Scotland in February. OK scrap that, I nearly lost my toes.

If you insist on keeping work and life strictly separate, fine. FINE. But do think carefully about how you’ll build a supportive network.

Because it’ll take more effort to avoid becoming one of the one in four UK adults who report feeling lonely some or most of the time. And that stat tilts more towards younger people (aged 16–25) rather than the stereotypical attic-living-cat-lady.

Do you agree or are you too a work/life separator?

Christine