Initially, it’s a strange feeling that ebbs.
The ebbing develops into a throbbing when you realize that there is something familiar about the person you just matched with on a matchmaking website.
Then it hits you.
She is someone you have crossed paths with, and as the recognition fully avails you, you realize that she is a coworker.
A coworker that you aren’t all that familiar with, but have bumped into from time to time at the workplace.
Out of nowhere, this coworker has matched with you on a dating site, and your thoughts are aflutter.
Thoughts about the idea of dating a coworker and the complications that accompany it, such as the bosses and other coworkers that won’t approve of the relationship.
The office gossip, where your name and hers are a constant mention.
The potential of a breakup with said coworker, and how much this negatively impacts your work life.
These raging thoughts give you tremendous pause about the prudence of taking this match seriously.
Your anxiety is noted, but matching with a coworker on a dating website is no different than if you had initially established a romantic connection with her in person at the workplace.
Basically, there is an attraction that leads to conversation.
Conversation that leads to an exchange of personal contact information.
An exchange of personal contact information that leads to the setting up of a formal date.
A formal date that leads to courtship.
A courtship that leads to a romantic relationship.
This is how it happens in a work setting, and it is no different than what occurs on a dating site.
With how busy and chaotic life is for working people, it isn’t unusual that so many of them sign up on dating sites to find a potential partner.
Believe it or not, there are even more people at your workplace that are currently using dating sites to meet potential partners.
Dating sites have become the norm.
To this end, she doesn’t think it unusual that she matched with you.
And you shouldn’t either.
Sadly, there is a prevailing notion that office or workplace romantic relationships are taboo and should be avoided.
This notion is overblown and completely unsubstantiated.
The truth is, a huge percentage of romantic relationships are borne from the workplace, whether those introductions occurred in person, or on a dating site.
These romantic relationships have worked for many, and there is no substantiated reason why you aren’t capable of experiencing the same.
The potential for a successful workplace romance dramatically increases when there is a strict separation of behavior at work from behavior at home.
Agreeing to a strict separation of the two is pivotal.
This is where as a couple you separate your romantic behavior from your professional behavior.
The workplace is a place for professionalism and this is nonnegotiable.
Avoiding romantic behavior such as passing each other love notes at work, eating from each other’s plates at lunch time, walking hand in hand on breaks, flirting with each other, staring at each other multiple times a day and for minutes on end, etc., maintains professionalism.
Coworkers who separate these two behaviors while at work, enjoy the longest and healthiest relationships as couples.
Even in the event of an unfortunate breakup, you never have to worry about any awkwardness between you at work.
This is because you were always professional with each other at work while you were in a relationship with each other.
As a result, continuing to be professional with each other happens naturally.
Coworkers that choose to not separate romantic behavior from professional behavior while at work, are often the ones who struggle the most with a breakup.
It’s awkward when they make eye contact with each other, given that they were so used to staring at each other multiple times a day and for minutes on end when they were in a relationship.
This awkwardness leads to an overzealous attempt to avoid each other, which only creates further discomfort at work.
None of this happens when you set ground rules with a coworker you choose to date, the most important of which is to separate romantic behavior from professional behavior while at work.