I joined Lemonade Stand three and a half years ago. At the time I interviewed, I had no idea what Build Then Bless was—the company mission statement and culture operating software that attracted most of our talent and retained them.
Almost four years later and I can’t look back on my work experience without noticing how saturated it’s been by our mission to Build Then Bless. Looking outside of yourself and lifting those around you makes you a better co-worker, boss, employer—a better person. But it also makes you a great work friend.
Having a “best friend” at work not only means employees enjoy their day more, but has a direct relationship to higher productivity, innovation, a safer workplace, and better engagement with clients and partners. Not to mention, employees with friends are less likely to look for employment elsewhere.
Sounds great, right? Yes, but only two in 10 U.S. employees report having a friend at work. This is so sad! If you don’t feel like you have a friend at work, consider this your sign to make the first move! Here are some of my favorite experiences making friends at work, and how Build Then Bless helped:
Jenna
As someone who is an introvert and shy (until you get to know me), meeting someone on Zoom for the first time is my worst nightmare. Jenna was hired at Lemonade Stand a year after me. We weren’t on the same team, but I had to set up a call a few weeks later because I worked on one of her client accounts. The minute she answered the phone, she said, “Finally. I’ve been dying to be your friend.”
This immediately put me at ease and we were fast friends. The best part? After only a few conversations, I got a package one day. It was a special edition of her favorite book. I think I sent her a thank you note in response. And, of course, I read the book. This led to me reading the whole series and the other 11 books the author has written—thanks a lot, Jenna.
In the last three years, we’ve sent letters, Christmas and birthday gifts, met up in Key West for a weekend, have read midnight releases of our favorite books over FaceTime together, supported each other through various goals and milestones, and so much more. I also know what Jenna is sending me for Christmas every year because she cannot contain her excitement and inevitably tells me months ahead of time.
Back in May 2023, I biked 40 miles in Boston with the National Brain Tumor Society to raise research funds while commemorating the 25th anniversary of my dad’s death. I used to do this fundraiser every year as a kid with my brother and cousins as a way to honor my dad and fight for a cure for this terrible disease.
Jenna had told me that she wanted to do something to support me while I was biking and that she was going to ride her bike in her area. I didn’t know until afterwards that she had biked 40 miles as well in her hometown on a bike that wasn’t even working properly. I was floored that anyone—let alone a work friend—would do that in solidarity. I remember showing my husband the text and photos from her and he said, “Jenna’s a real one. You better hold onto that friendship.”
Who knew that being overtly kind on Zoom and sending your favorite book to a fellow reader at work could lead to a real friendship in and outside of work?
Abby
Abby and I have worked on the same team for over three years, but we didn’t become work friends until much later. “Why?”, you ask. Because she was still in school full-time for a year after joining the Lemonade Stand team. She kept her head down writing blogs in the background and couldn’t make it to work meetings with her schedule.
I’m not quite sure when we became friends. It probably started somewhere around the time I tripped over a DoorDash order of black olives on my doorstep. I had mentioned in a work meeting that I love snacking on olives. Abby heard me say this and took it upon herself to send me a boatload of Lindsay olives. Something about Abby—she is a gift giver. She listens to every single small detail you say about yourself, files it away in her brain, and then will shock you with the best gifts on your birthday or a bad day. She also never shows up to a work function without a treat for you to try or her favorite Poppi flavor to force on you.
While Abby was in school, we were deprived of her extensive knowledge of The Office, her chickens wandering around the background of Zoom meetings, her ability to make us laugh by calling her ponytail a “Paul Revere hair day,” and her calming, steady presence on our team (seriously, nothing ruffles her).
For the last couple of years, we have worked together on tough projects at work, but we’ve also shared protein-packed recipes, held each other accountable on our workout goals, shared embarrassing photos of our middle school outfits, laughed a LOT, and somewhere in all of that our husbands became Instagram friends for some reason.
Braden
Braden and I worked together in the past during our college days. He applied for Lemonade Stand after I told him how much I enjoyed working there and was hired. While we’ve been friends for eight years now, I didn’t foresee us working together again and having so much fun while leading our team.
Braden is not the friend you should have if you need someone to talk you out of something. For the last couple of years we have performed skits, played musical instruments at work, and even recorded press conference themed apology videos for our team when we make mistakes.
Behind the scenes, he keeps things fun, creative, and boosts our team bonding. We hold our team to a high standard, and I don’t think clients would guess in a million years that behind their well-executed content strategies and website content is a team that is led by a modern-day bard.
Yes, we are work friends. But we’re also friend friends. Our families know each other and spend time together. I’m lucky to have the friends I do at work. Between building your team and company and blessing those around you, a lot of friendships take shape that can change your work life for the better.
Trauma Bonding Isn’t the Only Way to Make Work Friendships
I always hear people say that they are forever trauma-bonded with their work friends. The cruel employers and apathetic clients they’ve endured have helped them forge lasting friendships. While I think we can all relate to this as well, is it not worth it to proactively make friendships through service and outward thinking?
Instead of waiting to bond with a work friend over getting screamed at by your manager, try taking the first step. Help them when they need it, remember details about their life, send them a thoughtful gift, and care about their family. If that feels overwhelming, take a look at Build Then Bless and see how these principles and the software that holds you accountable can help.
