Having a Buddy at Work and 11 Other Factors for Great-Performing Work Groups

Do you have a friend at work – a buddy -- that you look forward to seeing each day? A leader recently told me that he’s asking team members to complete a quiz that asks about their individual work experiences, including if they have a good friend at the office. He wants to make coming to work more positive for his team. It’s part of keeping really excellent people and encouraging a productive workplace.

In fact, having a best friend at work is one of the 12 factors Gallup identified for creating great work groups. How well does your workplace stack up on these 12 factors that create great work groups? These 12 statements are based on 30 years of research and are those that best predict work group and employee performance. (See https://strengths.gallup.com/private/resources/q12meta-analysis_flyer_gen_08%2008_bp.pdf for background on the research.) Take this quick assessment about your own role, and share it with others you work with: Gallup’s Q12 Index for Great Work Groups Source: SHRM HR Magazine, The Gallup Q12 Employee Engagement Questionnaire, 2010. 1. Do you know what is expected of you at work? 2. Do you have the materials and equipment to do your work right? 3. At work, do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day? 4. In the last seven days, have you received recognition or praise for doing good work? 5. Does your supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about you as a person? 6. Is there someone at work who encourages your development? 7. At work, do your opinions seem to count? 8. Does the mission/purpose of your company make you feel your job is important? 9. Are your associates (fellow employees) committed to doing quality work? 10. Do you have a best friend at work? 11. In the last six months, has someone at work talked to you about your progress? 12. In the last year, have you had opportunities to learn and grow? How well did you do? There are many ways to foster work friendships on your team – cross functional projects and teams, professional development groups and activities, as well as social activities such as birthday celebrations, affiliate groups (e.g., new moms/dads, etc.), sports teams, and organization-wide events like picnics. Corporate volunteer programs are another way to build ties. People make connections with others in their work group while volunteering in support of community nonprofits. How are you fostering work friendships -- and the other 11 aspects of Great Work Groups -- for your team? Contact Beth Offenbacker for a complimentary session to discuss strategies for acing the Q12 index with your team.

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