WORK SPOUSE 101
Work relationships that work are priceless. Effortless. Fun. Sympatico. They make it worth showing up to your company everyday. You have a crush on their talent. You know each other’s awkward stories by heart and have a set of running inside jokes. No it’s not your significant other. It’s your work spouse.
Every position I have held, I have been fortunate enough to have a Clyde matched with my Bonnie self. Our relationship held us both through the unimaginable dramas and laughs of our workdays. Weeks, months and years passed and we showcased our dedication and trust towards each other. We confided in each other the daily issues that came across our desk, iphone, email and conversations that needed another ear “to make sure we aren’t crazy”. For me, these work spouses have all been men. It just worked out that way.
30-70% of professionals report having a work spouse. Now that many of us work upwards of 80 hours a week, we often spend more time with our work spouse than our significant other. What are the benefits of a work spouse? How does the relationship work? And what can you do to foster a healthy professional partner in crime dynamic?
Creative Juices Flying
He or she gets your creative juices flowing, picks up the ball when you drop it, and gets you to believe in yourself again and hit the ground running after a major setback. This is your go-to person to help you excel in your career – think Regis and Kelly, Liz Lemon & Jack Donaghy, Pinky and the Brain.
The hallmarks of a healthy corporate companionship including dependability, honesty, openness, shared values, shared interests, reciprocity, and A LOT of inside jokes! – Are you thinking what I’m thinking Pinky? Yes! But where will we find all that bright yellow duct tape?
More Benson & Amara, Less Bonnie & Clyde
The danger of office marriages is that they can make your actual spouse and office mates jealous. So to avoid setting your coworkers tongues wagging at the water cooler with speculation that you give your work SO special treatment, make sure to maintain the following work spouse wellness tips:
1. Avoid late evenings or weekends at the office with your work spouse. The last thing you want to do is foster rumors of an affair.
2. Speaking of affairs, don’t. Just don’t. It will never work out well and you’re going to have ruined a beautiful platonic powerhouse of a relationship.
Sider Road Media’s practice is designed to help with the bridge between you and work cultures, diversity and office politics in the form of interactive seminars, workshops and speeches. We are here to help.
