Friendship as a value? That may sound a little strange to you, but consider this: to be a good friend, there are several important skills that need to be in place. Just think: active listening, patience, forgiveness, honesty, trust, and communication skills are just a few of the values and tools necessary to be a good friend…or a good spouse, employee, sister, community member, or leader. That may seem a little far away for a second grader to think about being a great spouse or CEO, but all kids can relate to wanting to have and be a good friend. Building the skills needed for friendship will pay off for a lifetime.

In fact, according to an article by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, people who have a “best friend at work” are not only more likely to be happier and healthier, they are also seven times as likely to be engaged in their job. What’s more, employees who report having friends at work have higher levels of productivity, retention, and job satisfaction than those who don’t. Encouraging healthy, uplifting relationships at work increases culture, mental health, and the bottom line.

WAYS TO LOOK FOR THIS VALUE/SKILL:

• People in your organization enjoy being around each other because healthy interpersonal skills are in place
• Birthdays, holidays, and other milestones are honored together
• When someone in your organization is facing a tough time, others rally to help