New Faces, New Team: Finding Friendship in Crew Life

01

New faces, with no rush to become close

Emirates describes a multinational team and accommodation with shared kitchens and living areas. This is an Emirates-specific example.

If you are working alongside colleagues you have just met, a friendly connection is a good place to begin. You do not need to find a best friend immediately or be the liveliest person in the group. Small acts of attention can help you feel part of a team, without deciding how close each relationship needs to become.

• Read Emirates' team and accommodation context ↗

02

Start with getting someone's name right

When you meet someone, listen to how they say their name. If you are unsure, ask about its pronunciation casually. Using the name once in conversation may help you remember it, but there is no need to put it into every sentence. If you forget at your next meeting, asking honestly is more comfortable than continually avoiding a greeting.

Offer the same attention to other colleagues, including people who do not talk much straight away. A brief greeting next time is enough to show that yesterday's introduction mattered. You do not have to remember someone's entire personal history at once. Begin with their name and one light topic they chose to share.

03

Small talk can stay small

You do not need an impressive opening line. A question about favourite foods, hobbies or a comfortable place to read can make room for conversation. Choose something easy to answer without revealing private information. For example, ask whether they have a restaurant recommendation for a free day, then listen before adding a story of your own.

If the answer is brief, let the conversation end naturally. The other person may want quiet or have something else on their mind; you do not yet have enough context to know. Avoid treating nationality, accent or appearance as a summary of their personality. Curious conversation is different from asking someone to explain an entire culture you associate with them.

04

Look for moments that are actually available

If there is a permitted break and duties allow, you could offer to sit or eat together. Make sure the timing fits the work rules that apply. Friendship does not require starting a conversation while someone is concentrating on their responsibilities. Choose a moment that gives both of you room to be present.

Outside work, time together does not have to mean a big event either. A drink or a short walk can be an option if you both feel like it. Mention the likely cost and duration so the invitation is easy to consider. Other people may have different time, budgets or preferences for activities.

05

Make invitations easy to accept and easy to decline

A clear invitation can feel lighter than an open-ended plan. As a sample phrase, you could mention that you are getting coffee after finishing, then add that they are welcome to join if they feel like it. Leave room for a different answer without asking for an explanation. Declining one activity does not automatically mean declining a connection with you.

If someone cannot make it several times, you can pause the invitations and continue greeting them as usual. In a group, remember colleagues who do not know anyone yet. Introduce names or give a little context to the conversation, without making them tell a story. Warmth does not need to be measured by how quickly everyone becomes talkative.

06

Allow room for different ways of socialising

Some people are happy to share stories immediately; others prefer to listen first. Instead of deciding who is friendlier, notice what makes the conversation comfortable for both of you. If a joke or choice of words is unclear, ask calmly what it means. You do not have to pretend to understand in order to fit in quickly.

You can state your own preferences simply too: wanting somewhere quieter, skipping a particular activity or going home earlier. Respect similar choices from others. Settling in does not require everyone's tastes to become identical. A friendship you want to maintain can still make room for each person's habits, beliefs and privacy.

07

Stay connected across schedules or bases

After an enjoyable conversation, ask whether they would like to exchange contact details and which channel feels comfortable. A phone number or personal account is not automatically yours to have. To keep a conversation going, you could occasionally send a message about something you discussed, without expecting an immediate reply or checking why a message remains unread.

If you are in different bases or finding a suitable time is difficult, a small, flexible plan is enough. Consider time differences before calling. Ask permission before adding someone to a group, sharing their details or posting their photograph. A connection does not have to be proved through a shared post; a private conversation you both welcome is worth maintaining too.

08

Let closeness develop at its own pace

Being part of a team does not require attending every gathering. Time alone, relationships outside work and personal plans can still have a place. You can thank someone for an invitation and say that you would like to rest this time. You also do not have to share a story you are not comfortable discussing simply because someone else has opened up.

Take care of stories entrusted to you too. Avoid using gossip about a colleague as a shortcut to fitting in, and do not assume closeness gives you permission to cross someone's boundaries. If something makes you uncomfortable, state your boundary clearly. Work matters that need to be addressed should still go through the appropriate company channels.

For your next meeting, choose one small action: remembering a name, greeting someone first or offering a relaxed invitation to eat. You do not need to assess your whole social life after one day. You are giving a connection an opportunity to grow, while letting yourself and the other person choose the pace.