In Vital Friends, Tom Rath makes two main points.
One is that having friends at work is very beneficial to the employer. With a best friend at work, you are much more likely to be productive. Without a best friend at work, there’s only a 1 in 12 chance you’ll feel engaged! With three good friends at work you are 96% more likely to be extremely satisfied with your life. (All the numbers are from a Gallup poll.)
- Builders
- Motivators and coaches
- They push you
- They know our strengths
- They provide moral support
- Champions
- Stand up for you
- Sing your praises
- “Thrive on your accomplishments and happiness”
- Collaborators
- Share similar interests, ambitions and passions
- Do a lot with you
- Companions
- Always there for you
- Make sacrifices for you
- First person you call
- Connectors
- Always introduce you to others
- They seem to “know everybody”
- Energizers
- Your “fun friends”
- Make good days, great
- People you call to have a good time or to relax with
- Mind Openers
- Ask good questions
- People you share ideas and express yourself outloud with
- Navigators
- Give advise
- Steer you
- Share dreams and goals
Interestingly, he says that in friendships we don’t play the same role to each other. So you might be a mind opener to your friend and your friend might be a champion for you.
This book was an easy and interesting read. You can easily read it in a day. (I read it on a two hour plane ride.) However, I would have liked a lot more detail and depth.