As workplaces become more diverse, fostering meaningful interracial-bridging friendships offers immense potential to unlock the benefits of diversity while addressing challenges rooted in implicit biases and structural barriers. These relationships can enhance inclusivity and collaboration but often require overcoming initial perceptions of dissimilarity and relational risk. This paper introduces the concept of exploratory relational investment— deliberate actions aimed at understanding a potential connection and defining the meaning, content, and scope of a relationship—to highlight how deliberate efforts can bridge divides and foster commitment in interracial-bridging friendships. Drawing on social exchange theory, more specifically Rusbult and Farrell’s Investment Model, I theorize how perceived relational risk and utility shape decisions to invest in potential friendships. Through two studies, I demonstrate that exploratory relational investments may be key to understanding the formation of friendships at work, and why such commitment may be particularly crucial for interracial-bridging friendships. By emphasizing the critical role of intentional effort in developing these relationships, the findings offer insights for organizations and individuals seeking to foster inclusivity and collaboration in an increasingly diverse workforce.
