Welcome to another engaging episode of the WorkJoy Jam. I'm your host, Beth Stallwood, and joining me today is Ruth Richards, a communication consultant who has made a significant transition from marketing in the charity sector to helping individuals and teams collaborate more effectively.  In this episode titled "What's happened to work best friends?", we're delving into the dynamic world of workplace relationships and how they've been impacted by hybrid work and the recent challenges posed by the post-COVID-19 working world.  Ruth brings her wealth of experience to the conversation, exploring how internal dynamics within organisations can shape our work experiences. We talk about the importance of having a sense of purpose, the overlooked but critical need for training in collaboration skills, and the changing landscape of building human connections. Throughout our discussion, we'll also touch on Ruth's personal insights and the joy she finds in bouncing ideas off others to create meaningful connections on a micro-level. We'll uncover the challenges faced by employees in forming work best friends in a remote setting and the undeniable importance of brief personal interactions to foster trust and camaraderie, even online. To top off our episode, Ruth and I will share practical tips for nurturing relationships in this new era of work and how embracing personal responsibility can transform the way we collaborate, even when physically apart. So, connect with us as we deep-dive into what's really going on with our work friendships and what it means for our WorkJoy. Connect with ruth  Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-richards-46153a23/ And my website is www.ruthkrichards.co.uk