Ain’t it good when friends and work enmesh!!! I was recently in Edinburgh working with a very good friend. We originally worked together a couple of years ago and got on really well. Since then we’ve stayed in touch, visited each other, been running and walking, eaten pizza and even designed some workshops. At the same time we’ve provided each other with a listening ear in times of rubbishness, had mutual grouses about clients and participants and shared good ideas around both our businesses.

This doesn’t work for everyone. Some people prefer to keep their work and home life quite apart. However, friends are people we like and with whom we have fun and usually share values. Our working lives would be nicer, I’m sure if our colleagues were more like friends.

Where can you generate closer links and have colleagues who are also friends? How would that benefit you? You don’t need to cosy up to everyone at work but there may be a couple of folk with whom you have shared interests.

Where can you do the opposite and have friends who are also colleagues (or suppliers, or customers, or contractors)? How would that change your life? Take care to set good boundaries as although they say that all’s fair in love and business, it sometimes doesn’t work out way.