"Throughout my professional life, I have attended countless development programs that aimed to make me more productive … I had it all wrong. The potential was hiding within each relationship in my life.

- Tom Rath

You may have watched enough Oprah shows to realize that friendship is good for the soul. And if you've read books by Deepak Chopra you know that true friendship is beneficial to your physical health as well as your psychological well-being.

Now, the acclaimed Gallup research organization has found that friendships help you love your job.

Tom Rath, who leads Gallup's Workplace and Leadership Consulting worldwide, has published years of research in a fascinating book, "Vital Friends: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without." Offering anecdotes of real-life subjects and statistics to back up the stories, Rath tells us that friends at work are not only nice to have -- they are essential to employees' happiness, engagement and productivity on the job.

Opening with the tale of a homeless man, Rath explains that the interest that led to his research path was piqued with the stories of many down-and-out "street people" whose lives were ruined when personal relationships unraveled. At the time, 1991, Rath was working on a special research project on homelessness. Roger, his interview subject, had been a successful office worker with a family and a good salary. His best friend and work colleague was fired and disappeared from his life, and after that Roger's life started to fall apart. Without a close friend at work, his performance started to suffer. Soon he began to drink. His relationship with his wife deteriorated, and eventually they divorced. Before he realized what happened, Roger found himself in standing in line at a soup kitchen.

Relationships and success

What struck Rath was how many other stories -- not all of them quite so dramatic -- also hinged on a key relationship as a turning point into downward spirals for many interview subjects. Furthermore, when the study began to focus on how some homeless people found their way back to a "normal" life, this too seemed tied to the forging of a relationship with a caring person.

When we were teenagers, most of us spent a third or more of our time with friends. As adults, our friendships occupy only 10 percent or less of our time. However, those who take the time and effort to cultivate and nurture friendships have been shown to lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

When the researchers turned to workplace friendships, they were in for a surprise. Not only are the friends-rich folks happier overall, there were direct correlations between workplace friendships and overall job satisfaction, productivity and performance.

Work/life balance and friendships

"Everyone talks about the need for work/life balance -- but it might not be that easy to separate the two," Rath writes. "Your personal life doesn't stop when you get to work -- and you don't stop thinking about work when you go home at night. Indeed, if work doesn't even enter your mind at night or on weekends, this doesn't necessarily mean that you've attained the elusive work/life balance. It's more likely an indicator of how little you care about your job."

The data examined by the Gallup researchers reveal a world of friendships that does not abide by the work/life balance credo. Instead, the emotional boundaries between work and personal life are blurred -- "and that might be a good thing," Roth believes.

"If you dread going home after work, things are clearly out of balance, and you might need to examine what's wrong with your relationships at home -- and vice versa."

Perhaps, Rath postulates, balance is about having great friendships that extend between work and home. "This is easier said than done, of course," he writes. "While we spend more than half of our waking hours at work, most organizations have done very little to encourage friendships on the job. Some go as far as to prohibit close relationships, which could be a catastrophic mistake.

The Vital Friends Network

The second part of Rath's book invites readers to assess their current friendships (or lack thereof), identify the qualities of each friend and the roles they (and you) fulfill, and decide whether you would like to cultivate friends at work … and if so, what kind of friend? What can you offer, and what do you need in a friendship?

Each copy of "Vital Friends" features an ID code that allows users to register for the Vital Friends Network and communicate with other like-minded readers who are interested in exploring the book's message.

In analyzing the type of friend YOU are and the qualities of friendships that mean the most to you, check out Rath's Eight Vital Roles. Chances are that you'll come to see that the roles you play in your friends' lives may differ greatly from the roles you expect from them -- and vice versa. Rath identifies these roles as follows:

Builders are great motivators. They continually invest in your development and genuinely want you to succeed.

Champions stand up for you and what you believe in. They accept you for the person you are, even in the face of resistance.

Collaborators are friends with similar interests. Looking for someone who can relate to your passions? Find a Collaborator.

Companions are always there for you, whatever the circumstances. You share a bond that is virtually unbreakable. When something big happens in your life, this is the first person you call.

Connectors are bridge builders who help you get what you want. They get to know you, then introduce you to others and extend your network, giving you new resources.

Energizers are your "fun friends" who always give you a boost. You have more positive moments when you are with these friends.

Mind Openers are the friends who expand your horizons and encourage you to embrace new ideas, opportunities, cultures and people. These friends broaden your perspective on life and make you a better person.

Navigators are the friends who give you advice and keep you headed in the right direction. In a difficult situation, you need a Navigator at your side.

Bottom Line:

Some of the findings from the Gallup workplace study:

• Without a best friend at work, the chances of being engaged in your job are 1 in 12.
• People with at least three close friends at work were 96 percent more likely to be extremely satisfied with their life.
• Only 18 percent of people work for organizations that provide opportunities to develop friendships on the job.
• Employees who have a close friendship with their manager are more than 2.5 times as likely to be satisfied with their job.
• Just 17 percent of employees report that their manager has made "an investment in our relationship" in the past three months.