The work environment is an excellent place to meet new friends and perhaps even the man or woman of your dreams. If the latter is what you want, you have to understand the difference between being sweetly polite, friendly, or flirtatious.
It’s difficult to figure this out, mainly because of many company policies on professionalism in the workplace, with regards to mixing business with pleasure. Be cautious and smart if you are thinking of pursuing a romantic relationship with someone at work.
Be wary that your employer may see a relationship with a co-worker as disrespectful. Think about what might happen if you break up or, worse yet, hate each other’s guts.
If you’ve thought long and hard about all the pluses and minuses, and you still want to go for it, you need to know what clues tell you that a coworker likes you.
How To Tell If A Coworker Likes You
Here are a few telltale signs a person you are working with likes you!
1. You are the one he likes talking with most
Experts report there are a few reasons for this one. He might just like you, need something, or you are a newbie. Before you let your heart take action, you need to consider the possibility that, if you just started work, he might be trying to make you feel comfortable and not left out.
If you aren’t new at work, and he’s still talking to you the most, then he might like you. Pay attention to his signals, how he talks to you, and his physical gestures. If you only talk about work-related things, he could just be genuinely interested in you as a work partner. If your conversations branch outside of the workplace, it’s a pretty solid sign he likes you.
2. He’s not afraid to smile at you in meetings
When you catch him smiling at you in meetings and you smile back, it’s a pretty good indicator he wants to spend more time with you. Better yet, if you are doing a presentation, and he makes sure you know he’s listening and encouraging you, it’s another good indicator that he’s into you.
Combine these two pointers and you’ve got the number one indicator that a coworker likes you. If just looking at you puts a smile on his face, it’s got to mean something.
3. He makes a point of bringing you java
If you show up to work and, without asking, he brings you coffee just the way you like it, it’s another clear indicator he likes you. If he does this regularly and happens to grab you a breakfast sandwich or perhaps some flowers, then you’re a winner!
In fact, if he brings you anything, without you asking him, it’s a sign he wants your attention and he really wants to see you smile, hopefully with him.
Pay attention to see if he regularly does this for anyone else. If he does it for the secretary who’s been there forever and treats him like a son, that doesn’t count. Use your judgment to figure out whether he’s trying to make you feel special or if he’s just a nice, kind, and considerate man. Really, there’s nothing wrong with either.
4. He’s always asking how your day went when you weren’t at work
If a man wants to get you into bed, he’s never going to ask how your day was outside the office. And if he does ask, he won’t be listening to a word you are saying; that’s pretty easy to spot.
However, if he’s genuinely interested in your life outside the office and wants to hear what you have to say, then he’s most certainly interested in you. A guy that chooses to care and listen to what you have to say is a guy you need to keep around.
5. Asks you out for lunch
This normally isn’t against the rules at the office because you could be out talking shop over lunch. Studies show this is a tactic to get you out of the office environment and see what it’s like. It is tough, sometimes, to relax and be yourself when you are in work mode at the office.
When you’ve got micromanaging bosses looking over your shoulder, it’s tough to show the real you to any man. This is why he asked you out to lunch, so he can investigate you a little further in a comfy environment.
Is there any better way to a gal’s heart than through a nice lunch and some great conversation?
6. He chooses to sit next to you in meetings
He may act like this happens by accident, but trust me, he’s totally doing this on purpose! Add this to any other signs from our list, and you know he likes you.
This is the perfect innocent way for him to get closer to you, without stepping outside the work comfort zone. He’s got the hots for you if he always seems to get a seat next to you in meetings.
Perhaps he will pat your back or make an excuse to brush up against you and smile. He wants you to know that his attention is on you, and that’s got to open your eyes to the fact he really does like you.
7. The “accidental’ touch or brush
If you notice he seems to brush by you accidentally or he bumps into you on your lunch break or just passing by, it’s a clear signal he really does like you. It’s safe to say he’s likely not just being clumsy.
Truth be told, when you are attracted to somebody, your body is attracted as well, and sometimes, it’s got a mind of its own.
There’s not a lot of control here, but if he’s bumping into you regularly, you can be rest assured he’s into you.
8. He’s ready and willing to help you with work
He can be a crazy busy man, but if he’s always willing to set his stuff aside to help you with yours, you can be certain he likes you. Perhaps he will offer to help you with the heavy stuff or ask you if there’s anything you need him to do.
If he respects you when you say you don’t need help, and he’s still coming back time and again to offer his services, he’s a keeper.
Maybe that just makes him feel good, but you’ve got to keep the door open to something more until you figure out otherwise.
Just be wary that he could be looking for a quick way into your bed, and if that’s the case, you know and I know he needs to be kicked to the curb fast.
Always remember you deserve a healthy and happy respectful long-term relationship with the man of your choosing, that’s why it’s important you figure out if your co-worker likes you for the right reasons
9. He’s quick to defend you to coworkers when the need arises
If this guy goes into protective mode when it comes to you and your feelings, there’s definitely something else going on. Maybe a coworker has badmouthed you over a move you made, and if this guy steps up to the plate to defend you, he most certainly likes you.
This trait really does show the kind of man he is. What girl doesn’t want a strong man to defend her?
Even if they come after him because he defends you, and he still sticks by you, that’s all the evidence you need to know he’s a man you need to pursue.
10. This man gives you sweet nicknames
Sweet or funny nicknames, it really doesn’t matter. If a coworker is teasing you with endearing nicknames, it’s a clear solid signal he likes you. There is an obvious difference between friendly and serious teasing. If this guy is behaving friendly, he’s blushing and smiling at you, there’s certainly a chemistry between the two of you.
When you catch him staring at you when he’s telling you a joke, that’s the deciding moment.
You can take your relationship to the next level, if you like, because the ball is in your court. Take action to let him know you like him too. Sometimes all a co-worker needs is a little bit of encouragement.
11. This man remembers days that are special to you, including your birthday
Don’t read too much into this one because there are some guys that just aren’t good with remembering special days, no matter how much they love you.
It’s not because they don’t care. They just have some sort of blockage when it comes to remembering things.
However, normally, when a coworker is into another coworker, he’s going to do whatever it takes to remember the days that are special to her. This man will ask you how things went after the fact, and he will surprise you by giving you something you really love just because.
This is a guy you don’t want to let go because he’s showing you beyond a shadow of a doubt that he really, really likes you.
12. He brags about you to other coworkers
There’s always going to be that person that goes behind your back to try to take away from your accomplishments. That’s just the way the corporate cookie crumbles.
So, if a guy is willing to step out on a limb and brag about your value to the company, no matter what, he most definitely has a vested long-term interest in you. The signal couldn’t be clearer.
13. This man keeps trying to figure out where your relationship stands
He might not ask you directly, but you can figure out pretty quickly whether he wants to be more involved in your life. When he asks you what you did on the weekend and who it was with, it’s a strong indicator he likes you. If he didn’t want to spend more time getting to know you, he just wouldn’t ask.
Bottom line, when a man is trying to figure out your relationship status, he most definitely is into you; that’s a no-brainer.
14. He’s always got something for you to talk about
When a man is always figuring out things for you to talk about, he likes you. He really doesn’t care whether it’s relevant to him because his focus is on capturing your undivided attention.
If he’s coming up to you to talk about nothing, take that as a solid signal he really does like you.
15. All of a sudden, his work schedule matches yours
This one is a little weird, but it should also flatter you. When all of a sudden, his shifts are the same yours, that is more than a simple coincidence; it indicates he really does like you.
If he happens to offer you a ride home, that’s a bonus. Lucky you.
16. His body signal tells you straight-up
Back to the famous language of the body. You don’t have control of your unconscious body signals; that’s a fact. Hence, there are oodles of body clues he will give away, without noticing, that tell you he is interested in you and only you. He might be a fidgeter, always looking for ways to reach out and touch you.
Perhaps his body is always facing you, and that means he’s trying to tell you quietly that he really does want your attention.
For bonus, if he is mirroring your movements, it means beyond a shadow of doubt he is trying to tell you he really, really does like you.
17. This man has no issues making excuses, so he can spend time with you away from work
If this man is using his creative imagination to make excuses to see you outside the work walls, he’s the man you need to keep. This means he is so head over heels into you that he will do just about anything to spend quality time with you.
Don’t questions this signal; go for it with an open and positive perspective.
18. This gentleman makes sure your lunch break aligns with his
Could there not be a clearer signal? If a guy makes sure, no matter how much work he’s got to do, that your lunch break aligns, he is definitely into you. Of course, he’s likely to play the cool card and be pleasantly surprised that you are on break together. My best advice is just go with it.
If he didn’t want to hang out with you, he would definitely work right through his break.
19. He is mister agreeable
When you have someone to back you, it means everything in a business environment. This means he respects your knowledge and expertise and isn’t going to try to challenge this.
If a guy is attracted to you physically, he will nod his head continuously to make you feel like a beautiful goddess. However, if a guy has really fallen for you, he will want your mind and body equally.
Nobody on the planet is perfect, and we all screw up. If this man has your back, no matter how badly you’ve screwed up, you’ve got a man that’s worthy of you.
20. This guy asks you out
One of the most clear-cut indicators a coworker likes you is if he asks you out. He shouldn’t do this in a group hangout or forum because that’s just lame. It needs to be just the two of you. He might not even use the word date, but that’s okay.
If a man can muster the courage to ask you out, he seriously likes you.
The Flip Side Of The Coin…How To Tell If He Doesn’t Like You
Many coworkers won’t show their true feelings for you; they’d rather stab you in the back when the time is right.
It’s important to know the signs a coworker doesn’t like you, so you can defend yourself.
Here are a few tell-tale signs your coworker isn’t fond of you…
1. Your gut says they just don’t like you
If you are feeling like your coworkers don’t like you, they likely don’t. It could be all in your head, but usually, the gut is a good thing to follow.
Trust your gut to figure out whether a co-worker is into you or actually hates you.
2. They just aren’t smiling when you are present
This isn’t about the occasional bad day. If your coworker makes a serious effort to make sure you aren’t smiling, something isn’t right.
3. There’s no eye contact
When you don’t really like someone, it’s tough to maintain eye contact. If you notice he can’t maintain eye contact with you, then there are likely issues.
They might be able to detect that you have some hostility. This means they will choose the path of least resistance for them to stay away from you. Either way, this tells you loud and clear they don’t really like you.
4. He flat out tells you
This is a tough pill to swallow. If a coworker tells you that he doesn’t like you face to face, it’s a clear-cut sign he really doesn’t like you.
There may be no rhyme or reason here, but you need to respect what he says. Why would you want to be with a co-worker that doesn’t really want to be with you?
5. You’ve caught him chatting up other co-workers
Here’s another really tough one, particularly if you really think you like a man. If you catch him chatting it up with other girls or, worse yet, co-workers, you’ve got to label him disinterested and a total player.
There are many guys out there that are skilled in getting the girls when they want them and screwing all the other ones. You need to protect yourself from this sort of man.
you invest your heart in a man, that he wants to do the same for you and only you.
Final Words
It’s not easy to figure out whether a co-worker likes you for the right reasons. Some men are players, and they are willing to crush your heart just to get the validation they feel they deserve. More often than not, this is sex. So, never hop into bed with a sexy man just because.
You need to understand your value and your worth. You deserve what you want in a relationship for all the right reasons. Follow your gut. If you think a guy is playing you, no matter what he is saying, then he’s probably not looking out for your best interests. Don’t take the chance to have your heart broken.
On the other hand, if your heart is telling you this co-worker really does like you, the tables have turned. At this point, you owe it to yourself to take the chance, put yourself out there and be open to something more. You never know unless you try!
Regardless, it’s really difficult to figure out beyond the shadow of a doubt whether or not a co-worker might like you, never mind the workplace bureaucracy.
In most of my life experiences, it’s been made clear off the hop that business and pleasure can’t ever intermix. So you need to be clear-cut certain this person is worth your while if you are willing to challenge that.
All your boss is concerned about is what’s going to happen if you break up or end up hating each other. If that affects your work performance, you might wind up being fired. Something you need to consider before you let your emotions take over your logic. Particularly if you’ve worked really hard to gain this position.
A smart tactic is to make him prove his worth to you before you take that step.
Pay attention to his body cues and the words he is saying, so you can figure out whether he is a man you can see yourself building a future with.
