Who makes your workday go quickly?
Who is always there if you need to go grab a cup of tea and vent?
Who is your friend at work?
Do you make friends with staff, volunteers, or board members? Who do you meet outside of work to catch up? Who can you count on?
The right friends at work can make or break your work experience.
I remember my going away party for a nonprofit in Boston a few years ago. All of the nonprofit staff and volunteers gathered around, and told me how much they would miss me, and how they always saw me as joyful and free. It really meant a lot to me that they cared enough to send me off and say such nice things.
What have you learned from your friends at your workplace? What have you taught your friends? How have they inspired you?
When I began to work at a domestic violence nonprofit, there was no senior staff to learn from, and there was a big learning curve with the software and relationships. The woman who worked across from me was at first wary of me, but as we got to know each other, we became best friends. We saw a lot of challenges together, and a lot of triumphs.
She taught me how to respond to oppression, power and control, how to keep cool under fire, and how to do interruptions. She also taught me how to make some delicious bagels, meat pies, and cabbage rolls.
I taught her how to run a fundraiser for a nonprofit that she started on the side, and I helped her motivate her board to fundraise. We supported each other through crises and had fun too! We went dancing together, I took her for her first acupuncture appointment, and she took me to the beach!
We learned together how to run a bilingual festival, and it was a complete success.
And I am happy to say that we are still best friends to this day.
Leave comments below about your favorite nonprofit friend.
Hey nonprofit friend! Want to twitter together? Follow Wild Woman Fundraising on Twitter!