Office romances are generally frowned upon, but having a best friend or confidante in the workplace may just save your sanity. So many of your waking hours are spent at the workplace and coworkers tend to become your community, whether you like it or not.

A Built-In Support System

By virtue of being your coworker and existing in the same workspace as you, a work best friend simply gets it. They see the madness that sometimes ensues and can totally understand how you’re feeling. Did another coworker take credit for a project’s success? Did you get passed over for that promotion you’ve had your eye on for the past year? You’ll have a shoulder to cry on with a work best friend. And, when things go right (you get a raise! you land a new client!), you’ll have someone to celebrate successes with.

A Sounding Board

A work best friend understands the dynamics of the culture that you’re working in and can provide extremely useful feedback to your ideas and thoughts, before you share them with a larger audience.

"Thinking about approaching your boss about a new product idea or service line? By serving as a sounding board, a work best friend can help you brainstorm and refine your ideas before you actually present them."

Since your work best friend has your best interests at heart, you can be confident that he or she is giving you honest feedback, so if your idea is lacking, they’ll let you know before you embarrass yourself in front of the entire team.

A Personal Advocate

Naturally, as work BFFs, you’ve got each other’s back. When situations present where your role is the company is being discussed, or even questioned, a work best friend will be your biggest advocate and speak to your talents and values when you aren’t around to advocate for yourself! You each may also hear about opportunities that the other may not be aware of, so by teaming up and combining forces, you can maximize both of your possibilities at the company.

An Extra Set of Hands

Have a midnight deadline that you’re struggling to hit? Your employees or team members may bail, but your work best friend can come to your rescue to work late and help you get the project done (you’d do the same for him or her, right?).

A Social Companion

On a lighter note, you’ll have a standing lunch date and never have to face the office cafeteria (or local hangout) alone. And when there’s something to celebrate (even if it’s just making it to Friday), you’ll have a sidekick to hit happy hour with.

So, if you’d like to increase the amount of fun you have at work, while decreasing your stress levels, keep an eye out for a best friend candidate at work!