Trust, mutual respect and emotional loyalty are key qualities teammates at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) share amongst themselves as they communicate and develop relationships with their co-workers. Gallup research shows people with friends at work are happier at work. Two friends at NDCS agree.

NDCS employees, Recruitment Specialist Caralea Strayer and Development and Engagement Coordinator Nikki Peterson call each other their BFAW (Best Friend at Work). They say they really see a difference in their day when they have the opportunity to interact. “Honestly, it took me a few months of getting to work collaboratively with Nikki before I realized she is my BFAW,” said Strayer. “I was new to NDCS, and she was new to Human Resources. We both needed a mentor. Now, we share ideas and get critical feedback from each other on the product before it is published.”

The women found out they share Communication as their number one Gallup Q12 strength and understand each other’s urgency to want to get things off their mind and out in the open to feel reassured with their choices of action.

“It feels good to come into work every day knowing you have a person who has your back, who listens, who you trust and who is excited for your accomplishments,” said Peterson. “You definitely feel a difference when your person is not around. You miss them when they are gone and look forward to seeing them.”

“Without having a best friend at work, I might go all day without speaking directly to a human,” said Strayer. “So by having a BFAW, I have a built-in cheerleader to keep me going.”

Peterson noted you can have more than one best friend at work. “I have worked for NDCS for 11 years. I worked at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center, Community Corrections Center – Lincoln and now Central Office. I have had many people help me grow along the way and many people I also consider my BFAW.”

Through her engagement training, Peterson encourages teammates to identify specific things you can do to help create a positive and supportive work environment, participate in work-sponsored events or teams and get to know your teammates lives and what they’re interested in on a personal level. “Caralea and I have similar strengths and also some opposite strengths. So I can coach her in ways she needs and vice versa. Having a best friend at work is simply an extension of our NDCS work family we are proud of.”