Because work isn’t just about what you do. It’s about who you do it with.
A best friend at work is more than a lunch buddy.
It’s someone who makes you feel safe, valued, and understood in a space that can sometimes feel transactional. They bring laughter to the chaos, perspective to the pressure, and meaning to the mundane. When you have that kind of connection, the whole energy shifts. You see your job differently. You’re not just surviving work. You’re experiencing it with someone who makes it feel human.
A best friend at work matters.
At each stage of my career, I’ve had a best friend at work who made the experience more meaningful.
When I was a high school teacher, it was Ashley. We chaired the Spirit Club, pulled off legendary white-elephant pranks, and shared lunches that made hard days feel lighter. But she was also there in the hard seasons—when my classroom was broken into, when my mom got sick, when life felt heavy.
At Anthem, it was Pei-Wen Fu. We crisscrossed the U.S. teaching sales teams, built “Betty Bookworm” to grow the training department, and swapped celebrity gossip in every meeting. She was my sounding board, my vent line, and my hype woman.
At Yum! Brands, I was blessed with three—Sandra Ponce, Jane Ann Bradley, and Rebecca Bolte. Sandra balanced my assertiveness with her empathy, and together we co-facilitated theMark, changing thousands of lives. Jane Ann was my rock. She coached me, told me the truth even when it stung, and showed up for me over and over again—from cheering in presentations to long road trips where we laughed until our sides hurt. And then there was Rebecca—smart, sassy, and hilarious. She started as a quick cubicle stop and became the person I could brainstorm with, vent to, and laugh my way through office shenanigans with. She lightened the heavy days and grounded me when work was intense.
These friendships gave me something to look forward to each day, created shared meaning in the work we did, and gave me lifelong memories. They made me more resilient, more open to feedback, and more loyal to the organizations I worked for. Most importantly, they made me a better person and a better professional.
TRUST TAKEAWAY
Trust grows in the friendships that hold us.
Best friends at work turn colleagues into safe spaces, coworkers into coaches, and jobs into communities of belonging.
Gallup even includes the question “Do you have a best friend at work?” in their engagement survey. Their research shows that if you do, you’re more likely to stay with your company, more satisfied in your role, and even more willing to recommend your workplace — sometimes regardless of how you feel about your boss. That’s how powerful friendship is: it roots people in trust and belonging in ways no org chart ever can.
YOUR TRUST CHALLENGE
Create the conditions for friendship.
Pair two people to co-lead a meeting, invite a colleague for coffee, or simply ask a teammate how they’re really doing. Friendships don’t just happen. They’re designed. And when friendships grow, so does trust.
WHAT’S YOUR TRUST SCORE?
Trust changes everything: your influence, your income, your inner peace.
In less than five minutes, get your personalized Trust Architect Score:
✔️ How well you build trust with yourself
✔️ How well you build trust with others
✔️ How you repair trust once it’s been broken
No fluff. Just your Trust Score—delivered instantly and steps on what to do next.
👉 Take the free assessment now: www.mytrustaudit.com
WATCH JUSTIN IN ACTION
Justin Patton is a trust keynote speaker, leadership coach, and founder of The Trust Architect Group. Through his trademark motto Trust Starts Here™, Justin helps leaders build trust in themselves, with others, and across their culture — so they keep people coming back for more. Learn more at www.justinpatton.com.
