If you have a work crush, you are not alone!
We spend more time with the people that we work with than the time we spend with friends and family members. So, it should not surprise anyone that the workplace provides the fertile setting for romantic relationships to evolve. Sure, late night romances abound in watering holes, but most of those romances last as long as a Kim Kardashian-inspired reality show. Work crushes are the rule, not the exception. How do you deal with that loving feeling? You read books to help you navigate a work crush.
What You Need to Know
The best books to help you navigate a work crush focus on four central recommendations. You may not need to learn each of the four recommendations, but you should have the recommendations in mind every time a co-worker lights the flame of your passion.
There is a Difference between Feeling and Acting
You can enjoy a feeling, without ever acting on it. This may sound counterintuitive, as most people believe it’s hard to suppress romantic feelings. However, some work crushes may fade away as fast as the crushes appeared. Give the crush some time to establish a permanent place in your heart, before you act on it.
Don’t Allow Your Feelings to Control You
Authors of books to help you navigate a work crush invariably suggest taking charge of your feelings. Impulsive behavior typically leads down the road to behavior that is simply unacceptable in the workplace. A vast majority of employers have strict workplace guidelines that deal with workplace relationships. Make sure the work crush doesn’t destroy your hard-earned professional reputation.
Check out our official list of the 10 Coworker Crush Types.
Communicate Your Feelings
If your work crush feeling persists and you have done a good job of controlling your emotions, then the time has come to communicate with the object of your affection. You shouldn’t feel guilty about having a work crush, nor should you suppress the excitement of having a thing for a co-worker. Guilty thoughts produce unhealthy behaviors that your co-workers notice.
There is a Time and Place
You should always avoid mentioning the crush at work. Office gossip eventually makes its way to the people who sign your paychecks. Ask the object of your affection to spend a little time outside of work, so you have the person’s undivided attention and the seclusion of private interaction. It might be a good idea to first ascertain whether the crush has similar feelings towards you.
Books to Help Your workplace Romantic Dreams Come True
Amazon presents several hard and digital books that help you navigate a work crush. The advice comes from both human resources and relationship experts.
Romantic Relationship at Work: Does Privacy Trump the Dating Police?
Three co-authors examine the relationship between developing a work crush and the legal framework that pertains to workplace romantic relationships. The book stresses that courts typically uphold employer policies that strike a balance between privacy and ensuring professionalism.
As with other books in the “Dummies” series, “Dating for Dummies clearly explains the basics for establishing a dating relationship. People often forget that a work crush, albeit a difficult web to weave, still possesses most of the traits required to develop into a typical budding romance.
Workplace Romance: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
This quick and easy guide simplifies the complex nature of developing workplace romantic relationships. The author offers several tips on how to avoid the pitfalls commonly associated with navigating a work crush.
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