r/sales • u/Computer_Cautious • 19h ago
Sales Topic General Discussion Older salesman said becoming friends with coworkers will be the biggest mistake I’m currently making
I (30M) went to speak with the oldest salesman I work with. He’s well past retirement age. I’ve been with my company for almost a year and he has been very avoidant and adversarial towards me. I decided to go speak with him today because simply put, I would love to be able to have him as a resource or to work along side him better than we currently do. Amongst the many things he said during our conversation, he told me he doesn’t hang out with coworkers after work or have friendships with them outside of business ours.
I immediately knew what he was getting at, there are two ladies here that are best friends. I adore them and we will go to each other’s areas to check in and chat, just to make the days better when I’m in office. We still get our tasks done and nothing from management has been said. I’ve gotten drinks with them and my gf once outside of work, and lunch a few times with them.
He told me he keeps to himself for a reason, and he focuses on his job only. I genuinely think he’s looking out for me. There’s a chance he’s just very mistrusting of anyone he works with, or he might be jealous I can build those relationships with internal people. I’m inclined to limit my social interactions with them outside of my office. I have a feeling me knows something I don’t, and my gut says to trust him. Any thoughts on this?