Your colleagues at work are not your friends.

[Coin_info]

There is this mistake that some people make when they work in a company with others make, which is the assumption that their colleagues at work are their friends. With that assumption you find many people becoming too friendly with colleagues that they start sharing personal information and opinions about work to them. Your colleagues at work are not your friends and the earlier you realize that the better for you and the higher your chances of saving your work because everyone in the office setting is just there to work for money and then get a promotion And if it happens in the case that you occupy a higher level than other individuals in your office be rest assured that those people have the intention of getting to that position that you currently occupy and don't mind selling you out for it. This is where friendliness should be avoided because if you are friendly with your colleagues at work you will not know when you will share personal opinions or other details that can be used against you in the office to either get you fired or demoted. I say again, don't make the mistake of thinking your colleagues are your friends.

Be friendly, but keep it professional.

[Findingnemo]

Colleagues can become friends too and for the fact friend can throw you under if that becomes the only option. I would say don't trust with anybody that can bring you down and even your partner can use that against you in certain situations. Know your limits and keep it casual in your workplace while focus on becoming an important asset to the place where you are working. Because if you focus in bringing results than anyone else they got no reason to fire you.

[bakasabo]

I think it depends a lot where you work and how work is organized. You employees performance is evaluated individually, then there might raise problems among employees. If payment depends on job done and performance, than competition between employees might ruin friendship. If you have fixed salary and contract, then I dont think other employees will try to take your position or try to do something that employer will think you are a bad employee. Depends a lot from a person also. There are people who are envious and they might do something to get you fired. But if you stay friendly, in most cases other will also be friendly.

[Fortify]

There is this mistake that some people make when they work in a company with others make, which is the assumption that their colleagues at work are their friends. With that assumption you find many people becoming too friendly with colleagues that they start sharing personal information and opinions about work to them. Your colleagues at work are not your friends and the earlier you realize that the better for you and the higher your chances of saving your work because everyone in the office setting is just there to work for money and then get a promotion And if it happens in the case that you occupy a higher level than other individuals in your office be rest assured that those people have the intention of getting to that position that you currently occupy and don't mind selling you out for it. This is where friendliness should be avoided because if you are friendly with your colleagues at work you will not know when you will share personal opinions or other details that can be used against you in the office to either get you fired or demoted. I say again, don't make the mistake of thinking your colleagues are your friends.

Be friendly, but keep it professional.

You make some very good points - treat your work and home life very distinctly. While you might be lucky enough to make the occasional great friend through work, there are a lot of people who will pretend and if you or they left tomorrow you'd never hear from them again. You can also be in competition with them too if there is ever a situation where cutbacks are necessary and they may be able to exploit your weaknesses in different ways. It's even more true if you start to make your way up to management, if you end up getting too close to workers then you can sometimes end up in a game of favoritism, where you prioritize people that suck up to you instead of people who are best at the job. There are so many dangers from mixing up relationships, but it's an easy trap to fall in because we spend a large chunk of our lives together.

[GrafMonteKristo]

I can’t agree this is true because I’m friend with my colleagues. They helped me a lot for some tasks in work and outside. We use to chill and hangout outside a lot. They are people who were good to me and I consider them as real friends.

[noorman0]

I've never worked anywhere where positions were competitive among coworkers; I thought it was more about personality than social culture. I actually believe that building more relationships and connections among coworkers will lead to promotion, with the full support of those around me.

In my country, being close to coworkers is commonplace. They actually help reduce the risk of being fired.

[Coin_info]

I can’t agree this is true because I’m friend with my colleagues. They helped me a lot for some tasks in work and outside. We use to chill and hangout outside a lot. They are people who were good to me and I consider them as real friends.

You are lucky to have such colleagues who are also your friends. It is not everyone that is that lucky, this is why you must be professional in a new work place to know the energy they bring. If they are friendly, then be friendly but not over friendly. Give back the same energy that they give to you.

They actually help reduce the risk of being fired.

For some other people, especially in the private sector not for those in government offices, your colleagues will not care if you are fired or not.

[noorman0]

They actually help reduce the risk of being fired.

For some other people, especially in the private sector not for those in government offices, your colleagues will not care if you are fired or not.

On the other hand, some workers also consider relationships more important than their position.
This again comes down to inherent personal issues, which aren't debatable at all. In my opinion, the level of caring can't be generalized. There's nothing wrong with cultivating a sense of skepticism early in the work environment; at least you can assess the situation yourself.

[Marvelockg]

There is this mistake that some people make when they work in a company with others make, which is the assumption that their colleagues at work are their friends. With that assumption you find many people becoming too friendly with colleagues that they start sharing personal information and opinions about work to them.

Friendship are built over a period of time and with more knowledge of a person it becomes easy to decide whether or not, a certain person is capable and being looked at to be a friend. Even in a family, there are information you can decide to relate with everyone and there are some you should as a matter of neccesity keep to yourself. You can't really know who's in a circle untill you've stayed long enough with a person..

[passwordnow]

Be friendly, but keep it professional.

Politics at work is so much and that's why I agree to be friendly and stay professional. And what you have in there is your goal to work and earn, go home and provide for your family. Other than that, it's just pure business after all as you get employed and try to get into the ladder of promotion in the company you chose to work for. Whatever is in the office, stays in the office and whatever you've got at home, stays at home. You don't publicize your personal life to your colleagues and just don't mind if they're the first ones to share their private life to you, just get out of their radar.

[Hispo]

That is something I have been told many times, the fact there are not actual friends at work places, just colleagues...
And because of that, I have been taken some measures not to get too close to people who could abuse my personal information to hurt me.

What OP says is not false, it is the reality of most western companies, where people want to have advantages over others and get more money.

Fortunately, I have worked in places where it is not so toxic and one do not expect to back-stabbed at any time, it is better to be safe than sorry and lose one's position in one's company.

It is better to keep all professional and be just friendly enough not to push people away from one.

[Mhizlove]

I've never worked anywhere where positions were competitive among coworkers; I thought it was more about personality than social culture. I actually believe that building more relationships and connections among coworkers will lead to promotion, with the full support of those around me.

In my country, being close to coworkers is commonplace. They actually help reduce the risk of being fired.

I like the point you're making but the truth is that, every workplace has their own culture, in some place having a good connection and relationship with coworker can help you grow and feel more safer with the job. The balance is still very important,don't let friendship to over you and make you forget that it's a workplace. If you want to have one you should build a good relationship, always show good character and don't forget to support others and always know the line between professional space and your personal life with this you will end up enjoying connecting with putting yourself at risk at the end of everything

[Sarah Jordan]

You're very correct on this. Your colleagues aren't your friends. Most colleagues don't regard their fellow colleagues as their friends especially if it's a competitive work environment.
Some of my colleagues even told me there's nothing like friendship during and after working hours. Though some persons in the work space still make good real friends. The best way is not see your colleague as your bestie you can share everything with.

Rather, be less friendly, talk less and focus more on what got you there in the first place.

[o48o]

There is this mistake that some people make when they work in a company with others make, which is the assumption that their colleagues at work are their friends. With that assumption you find many people becoming too friendly with colleagues that they start sharing personal information and opinions about work to them. Your colleagues at work are not your friends and the earlier you realize that the better for you and the higher your chances of saving your work because everyone in the office setting is just there to work for money and then get a promotion And if it happens in the case that you occupy a higher level than other individuals in your office be rest assured that those people have the intention of getting to that position that you currently occupy and don't mind selling you out for it. This is where friendliness should be avoided because if you are friendly with your colleagues at work you will not know when you will share personal opinions or other details that can be used against you in the office to either get you fired or demoted. I say again, don't make the mistake of thinking your colleagues are your friends.

Be friendly, but keep it professional.

Sounds like your job sucks or you were naive about your colleagues. There are non-toxic work environments as there are toxic ones. I know that in a horrible environment, there's really no point making friends. But some jobs are just freaking awesome with awesome people that aren't about to stab you in the back. But there's no reason why you should make friends with your co-workers just because you work at the same place.

From what i have learned, getting a promotion requires many things, but i don't think that there's many places where you can get promoted by putting down your co-workers. Because one of the main features of a good boss is bringing out the best in their employees. And that happens by being interested about your co-workers so you know their pros and cons.

[Bitcoin.com97]

It’s not applicable to everyone, some make good friends at work , saying my colleagues is not my friend is not a lie, but it depends on the work place , in some cases it’s true and in some it’s not true , even your neighbor is not your friends, one need to be very careful in your workplace and environment, everyone has a different motive , me personally I don’t like having conversations with anyone for more than an hour , because once you do , information that is not supposed to leave your mouth , comes out , and once it’s out you can’t take them back , so it’s better to maintain your space and mind the business that pays you.

[Rockstarguy]

Well, you are correct because the workplace accommodates people from different backgrounds and with different characters. It is important for people to be conscious and observant of the people in the workplace.

Even in families, there are some members who don't even care about you or vibe with you, let alone in a workplace. Despite people in the workplace not being your friends, it doesn't mean you can't have good friends from your workplace. If you come across someone who has the same interests, goals, and mutual love and respect, there is nothing wrong with making good friends from the place of work.

[Stalker22]

Its difficult to build genuine friendships with coworkers, yet we find it easy to discuss personal matters with them due to the heavy amount of time that we spend with one another.  I have realized that the majority of the people that you consider to be your "friends" at work are actually not.  It is interesting how quickly those friendships evaporate during layoffs or any kind of downturn in a company; and not because people are being "evil" but rather due to self-preservation instincts.
I completely agree with your philosophy about making friends at work only if you keep a balance of having a "friendly but professional" relationship.

[BADecker]

The simple best thing a person can do when his work comrades talk to him, is to say, "I  don't understand." Then listen when they try to explain it again, and then say, "I don't understand that either."

You can learn a lot when you keep them talking.

[Berry2d]

Its difficult to build genuine friendships with coworkers, yet we find it easy to discuss personal matters with them due to the heavy amount of time that we spend with one another.  I have realized that the majority of the people that you consider to be your "friends" at work are actually not.  It is interesting how quickly those friendships evaporate during layoffs or any kind of downturn in a company; and not because people are being "evil" but rather due to self-preservation instincts.
I completely agree with your philosophy about making friends at work only if you keep a balance of having a "friendly but professional" relationship.

The working environment is a place filled with people of different ideology,  thinking and believes that may or may not go in accordance to your own beliefs but because most people are too fast in drawing conclusions in the behaviour of others, they easily believes some colleges are friends and can maintain good friendship without knowing that is the beginning of his downfall. 
Because of the competitive nature of all working environment is think we need to be very careful because It is not all that glitters are gold.  Although at times good relationship can be built at a working environment but we need to trend with caution because it is only someone that knows you can hurt you.

[Decimetre]

There is this mistake that some people make when they work in a company with others make, which is the assumption that their colleagues at work are their friends. With that assumption you find many people becoming too friendly with colleagues that they start sharing personal information and opinions about work to them. Your colleagues at work are not your friends and the earlier you realize that the better for you and the higher your chances of saving your work because everyone in the office setting is just there to work for money and then get a promotion And if it happens in the case that you occupy a higher level than other individuals in your office be rest assured that those people have the intention of getting to that position that you currently occupy and don't mind selling you out for it. This is where friendliness should be avoided because if you are friendly with your colleagues at work you will not know when you will share personal opinions or other details that can be used against you in the office to either get you fired or demoted. I say again, don't make the mistake of thinking your colleagues are your friends.

Be friendly, but keep it professional.

You are saying the truth. There are many times when we get carried away that you start feeling like you have met the true friendship in your colleagues at work and often times, it comes back to hunt us. However, some times we can also meet real friends in the work place but it's in rare cases. I will say that even if you finally meet who you think is your real friend at your work place, don't discuss any official matters with them especially the ones you wouldn't want anyone to know because friends sometimes turn to enemies.

There is power in secrecy because no one can betray you if he doesn't have the right information about you and your dealings. There are some people that have lost their jobs due to their closeness with their colleagues. It can be that a guy is getting too close to a female colleague who their boss is interested in. This can easily get you fired and you become jobless. You can get any kind of friends you need outside your work place so avoid too much closeness with them to avoid unnecessary problems at work that you may not even why you are in those problems.