Many professionals prefer to keep their close relationships separate from their work, only pursuing friendships within their personal spheres. Although this may be a tempting approach to keep the stresses and demands of both worlds to a minimum, here are 10 reasons you should develop professional friendships:

1. For your sanity and mental health. Having a professional friendship gives you a sense of trust and safety within the work environment.
2. For your loved ones' sanity. Save your family from hours of unrelatable frustrations about your job.
3. For growth. Leverage your professional relationships for new opportunities, as well as knowledgeable feedback about your work
4. For support. Having someone to talk through common issues can help with mental stress as well as provide a sounding board for resolving the issue.
5. For navigating the unknown. New projects, complex tasks, and new roles or responsibilities can be daunting. Having a professional friendship can provide emotional support as well as professional insight for problem-solving.
6. For connections to resources. There is power in numbers! Your professional connections can help you resolve issues within your work by providing access to additional resources.
7. For connection to their networks. Looking to grow or pivot in your career? Reach out to your professional friends for support. They may lead you to your next opportunity!
8. For a different perspective: A fresh look at ongoing issues may provide breakthroughs and solutions!
9. For defusing workplace drama: They know you, not your team, so they can provide neutral feedback. You might be overreacting; your professional friend can tell you that.
10. For overall resiliency and professional growth: When the hits keep coming at you as an individual or your profession overall, professional friends provide honest conversations, resources/networks, perspective, support, and wellness checks.

By following these guidelines, you're sure to future-proof your career!

About the Presenters

Greg Brinck is assistant town administrator in Eaton, Colorado, where he manages public works and community and economic development, driving significant IT upgrades and revitalization projects. With a background as town administrator in Cedaredge, Brinck values community engagement and transparency, prioritizing relationships among staff and the public. 

Samma Fox was appointed interim city manager within her first year at Louisville, Colorado. Fox combines analytical expertise with an understanding of community and organizational needs. She is passionate about fostering positive change through continuous improvement, ensuring that systems and processes are always evolving to meet the dynamic demands of our world. 

Greg LeBlanc joined Snowmass Village in March 2022 after serving for five years with Grand Junction, Colorado. He is an advocate for local government excellence and leverages his communications and environmental experiences to build community. 

Learn more about ICMA's Local Government Reimagined Conferences, Innovations for Thriving Communities.