Friendship with Robert Waldinger and Shirley Cramer

Friendship is often treated as something we fit around the rest of life. But over a long working life, it becomes one of the relationships that most sustains us. In this episode of Life Threads, Lynda Gratton explores what it takes to build and maintain meaningful friendships over time. She is joined by Robert Waldinger, Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, whose research shows the powerful link between warm relationships, happiness and health. Later, Shirley Cramer, a long-standing friend of Lynda’s, reflects on how friendship is sustained across decades through attention, continuity and care. Together, they ask: who are you choosing to stay connected to? Host: Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour, London Business School Guests: Robert Waldinger, Researcher, Author and Psychotherapist Shirley Cramer CBE, former CEO of the Royal Society for Public Health Chapters: 00:40 Introduction 01:43 Robert Waldinger on friendship, happiness and health 06:37 Navigating work friendships and building trust 16:47 Strengthening friendships and making new connections 20:49 Shirley Cramer on sustaining friendships across decades 32:43 Friendship at work and creating a caring culture 37:12 Four tips for lasting friendships 41:24 Lynda’s final thoughts Mentioned in this episode: ⁠⁠⁠Living the 100-Year Life⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Life Threads diagnostic⁠⁠ Learn more: Listen to the full episode and follow the series for more. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/school/london-business-school/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/londonbschool/