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Dr. Venessa Marie Perry

Are "work friends" your real friends?

Published about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Reader,

For a long time, many of us learned to keep work relationships at a distance.

Not because we did not like our colleagues, but because we were taught that staying strictly professional was safer. Smarter. Less risky.

But I have watched Black women navigate microaggressions at work with strength not because they handled it alone, but because they had people inside the organization who understood exactly what was happening. No explaining. No minimizing. Just recognition and support.

Here is the truth. For Black women in corporate spaces, workplace relationships are not just social. They are protective. Strategic. Sometimes essential.

Your closest friends outside of work love you deeply. But they are not in the meetings. They are not watching the same dynamics unfold. They are not carrying the same unspoken weight.

That does not mean trust everyone. It means build trust intentionally.

Share a little. Observe who keeps confidence. Notice who shows up when things are uncomfortable. Pay attention to who advocates for you when you are not in the room.

You do not need many people. One or two can change everything.

Because some battles require people who are in the arena with you.

If navigating workplace dynamics feels isolating right now, you do not have to do it alone. Let's take 20 minutes to see if coaching is a good fit.

You can also join me for a deeper conversation about work relationship, friendships, situationships and more over on Substack

With Care & Clarity,

105 Tuckerman St NE, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20011
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Dr. Venessa Marie Perry

Psychologist|Executive Coach|Strategist|Author

Welcome to my Creator Page! As a psychologist, organizational and leadership development consultant, and executive coach with over 25 years of experience, my aim is to help individuals and organizations build high-performing teams, master effective communication, and transform relationships. The main vehicles to facilitate this transformation include 1-on-1 executive coaching, strategy consultations and the BYOND group coaching experience, a sanctuary and community for Black women to inspire, uplift, and empower one another while focusing on well-being and collective transformation.

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