You Don't Have to Like All Your Work Colleagues

When you enter a new work environment, it’s natural to want to turn your colleagues into friends—after all, you’ll be spending a significant amount of time together. Over the years, I’ve learned that while some colleagues do become close, trusted friends, others will remain just that—colleagues. And that’s perfectly okay.

As a young professional, it’s natural to worry about not connecting with everyone. But here’s the truth: it’s far more rewarding to nurture a few meaningful relationships than to spread yourself too thin trying to be “friends” with everyone. Deep connections, built on trust and shared experiences, are far more valuable than superficial friendships.

So how do you make friends at work? Often, these relationships develop organically. Team projects, tight deadlines, and stressful situations tend to reveal who you truly connect with. Those are the people who might become lifelong friends, while others will remain simply coworkers—and that’s perfectly normal.

My advice? Don’t exhaust yourself trying to make every interaction a potential 

friendship. Instead, focus on developing a handful of deep, supportive relationships that will help you navigate challenging or stressful situations. Work, in many ways, mirrors high school: you won’t like or click with everyone, but a few special people will remain in your life for years to come, both professionally and personally.