"Rath's bullishness on friendship is based on solid research and
couched in intelligent prose."
-- Publishers Weekly, May 2, 2006
More than a book about the workplace and more than a study of
what makes friendships work, Vital Friends: The People You
Can't Afford to Live Without (Gallup Press; hardcover, August
1, 2006) by Tom Rath is the first book to take a comprehensive look
at the value of friendships in our society across both our private
and public lives. The results are startling, provocative, and
certain to change the way we look at friendships forever.
Drawing on more than 5 million interviews conducted by The
Gallup Organization as well as the work of several leading
researchers, Rath uncovers some startling truths about the bonds we
form and how they affect everything from our attitude to our
productivity.
Among the discoveries:
- People who have a "best friend" at work are seven
times more likely to be engaged in their work. They also have
fewer accidents, more engaged customers, and are more likely to
innovate and share new ideas.
- Although most companies don't encourage, and some outright
forbid, close relationships between workers, Gallup research shows
that close friendships at work boosts employee satisfaction by
almost 50%.
- The research overall shows that the quality of the friendships
in your life are the best predictors of daily happiness and life
satisfaction and have profound implications for your physical
health and longevity.
- People with at least three close friends at work were 46% more
likely to be extremely satisfied with their job and 88% more likely
to be satisfied with their life.
- Friendship is the silver lining in a marriage, accounting for
approximately 70% of overall marital satisfaction. "The quality of
a couple's friendship" was found to be five times as important as
"physical intimacy."
- Spending time with your boss was rated as the least pleasurable
time of the day. However, when employees do have close friendships
with their boss, they are more than twice as likely to be satisfied
with their jobs.
- The watercooler effect: You are three times as likely to have a
close-knit workgroup if physical environment makes it easy to
socialize. Unfortunately, only one-third of the people we studied
report working in such an environment.
- Do friends shape your waistline? If your best friend has a very
healthy diet, you are more than five times as likely to have a very
healthy diet yourself.
- Successful friendships are the ones in which friends play a
specific role in your life (there are
eight roles of friends defined in the book -- from Builder to
Navigator, Companion to Champion). The fatal mistake in friendships
is forcing one person to fill every role.
Along with the compelling research, every copy of Vital
Friends comes with a unique code for readers to take the
online vital friends assessment. This series of questions and
responses uncovers the vital friendships in a person's life and
shows them the vital roles these people play.
In the foreword to the book, Rath provides some fascinating
insight into his own interest in the concept of friendships and
their value. "The energy between two people is what
creates great marriages, families, teams, and organizations,"
writes Rath. "Yet when we think consciously about improving our
lives, we put almost all of our effort into
self-development.
"As I look back on my formal education, it was based almost
entirely on mastery of a topic or building my knowledge
base. In grade school, I learned how to read, multiply, and write,
and I attempted to learn a foreign language. During college and
graduate school, I had the opportunity to focus on even more
specific topics that piqued my interest. Throughout my
professional life, I have attended countless development programs
that aimed to make me more productive. Even when I have
dedicated time to developing others, my attention has focused on
each person's self-development.
"I had it all wrong. The potential was hiding within
each relationship in my life."
Vital
Friends shines a potent and provocative new light on the
value of friendships throughout our lives and gives us each the
tools to make the most of each and every one of these
connections.
Learn More
For more information, contact:
Contact: Barbara Cave Henricks
Goldberg McDuffie Business
512-301-8936 or bhenricks@goldbergmcduffie.com
The 8 Vital Roles
The research behind Vital Friends reveals that
people have significantly better friendships if they can easily
describe what each friend contributes to the relationship. Here's a
look at the eight most common friendship roles that the research
uncovered:
BUILDER
Builders are friends who motivate you, invest in your
development, and truly want you to succeed -- even if it means they
have to go out on a limb for you. These friends help you see your
strengths and advise you on how best to use them. They are generous
with their time and encourage you to accomplish more. Builders
won't compete with you; they will be cheering for you all the way
to the finish line.
CHAMPION
Champions stand up for you and your beliefs, and they sing your
praises. They are the friends who "have your back" and who will
advocate for you even when you're not around. They accept you for
who you are, even in the face of resistance. Champions are your
strongest supporters who thrive on your accomplishments and
happiness.
COLLABORATOR
Collaborators are friends with similar interests -- the basis
for many great friendships. You might share a passion for sports,
hobbies, religion, work, politics, food, movies, music, or books.
Shared interests are what often make Collaborators lifelong friends
and those with whom you are most likely to spend your time.
COMPANION
Companions are always there for you, whatever the circumstances.
You share a bond that is virtually unbreakable. When something big
happens in your life -- good or bad -- these are the people you
call first. Companions take pride in your relationship, and they
will sacrifice for your benefit. These are the friends for whom you
might literally put your life on the line.
CONNECTOR
Connectors are the bridge builders who help you get what you
want. These friends get to know you and then instantly work to
connect you with others who will share your interests or goals.
They extend your network dramatically and give you access to new
resources. If you need a job, a doctor, a friend, or a date, call a
Connector.
ENERGIZER
Energizers are your fun friends who always boost your spirits
and create more positive moments in your life. Energizers have a
remarkable ability to figure out what gets you going. They pick you
up when you're down and can turn a good day into a great day. Call
on your Energizers when you need a laugh, a smile, or a bit of
relaxation in your day.
MIND OPENER
Mind Openers expand your horizons and introduce you to new
ideas, opportunities, cultures, and people. They challenge you to
think in innovative ways and help you create positive change. They
know how to ask good questions that make you more receptive to
ideas. Mind Openers challenge conventional wisdom and allow you to
express opinions that you might be uncomfortable articulating to
others.
NAVIGATOR
Navigators are friends who give you advice and keep you headed
in the right direction. You seek them out when you need guidance
and counsel -- they're great at talking through your options. If
you are in a difficult situation or at a crossroads, talk to a
Navigator. They are best at hearing your dreams and goals and then
helping you find the path to achieve them.
Adapted from Vital
Friends: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without
(Gallup Press, 2006)