Having friends at work can make the day go by faster and provide much-needed support during hard projects, but you can’t forget the drawbacks to socializing with your colleagues. Here are ten signs that you should stop hanging out with your co-workers:
How to Know If You Should Stop Hanging Out with Your Colleagues
1. Stop hanging out if you always gossip
If you spend more time chatting about other people’s lives than working, it might be time to take a step back. Gossiping can create a toxic work environment and damage relationships between employees.
2. You always complain
Nobody likes a Negative Nellie, and if you’re constantly complaining about your job, your co-workers might start avoiding you. If you’re unhappy with your work situation, talk to your boss about possible solutions instead of complaining to everyone around you.
3. You always ask for favors
Asking for the occasional favor from a colleague is okay, but if you’re always leaning on your co-workers for help, it’s time to start doing things for yourself. It’s unfair to take advantage of other people’s time and energy, but it also makes you look incompetent.
4. Stop ganging out if you always talk about yourself
We all like to talk about ourselves, but there’s a difference between sharing a story and blabbing endlessly about your own life. If you find that you’re the only one doing the talking in your conversations with co-workers, it’s time to start asking them more questions and showing genuine interest in their lives.
5. You always try to one-up people
Competition is healthy in some situations but trying to outdo your colleagues create a tense and unfriendly work environment. Instead of trying to one-up one another, focus on working together towards common goals.
6. You interrupt people
We’ve all been interrupted by a talkative colleague, and it’s extremely frustrating. If you find that you’re the one doing the interrupting, try to be more conscious of other people’s conversation starters and give them a chance to speak.
7. You put people down
Are you the type who likes to point out other people’s flaws? If so, you might want to stop hanging out with your co-workers. Constantly putting other people down is a surefire way to make enemies and make yourself look bad.
8. Stop hanging out if you always cause drama
Drama queens (and kings) are not fun to be around, and if you’re the source of office gossip, you might want to take a step back from socializing with your colleagues. Not only is drama stressful, but it can also lead to conflict in the workplace.
9. You’re too comfortable using substances
A glass of wine or beer at happy hour is one thing, but if you’re constantly using substances during work hours or work-related events, it’s time to stop hanging out with your co-workers. Not only is addiction in the workplace a serious problem, but it can also damage your professional reputation.
10. You don’t actually like your co-workers
If you find that you don’t have anything in common with your co-workers or that you don’t enjoy their company, there’s no reason to force a friendship. It’s perfectly okay to decline invitations politely and spend your free time with others.
Conclusion: When You Should Stop Hanging Out with Your Colleagues
Do you recognize any of these signs in yourself? If so, it might be time to stop hanging out with your co-workers and focus on building relationships outside the office.
