Workplace Friendship: Exercise Caution

There is no doubt – if you have good friends at workplace, you’re most likely to enjoy the time spent at work. There is someone to sit with at lunch, someone to discuss the gossips ;-) someone to accompany while going for break and someone to empathize over challenges you faced.

For last 6 -7 months, this debatable subject was going through back of my mind as I had seen both good and adverse effects – I was thinking about its pros and cons and whether it’s advisable or not etc. A person may act according to one’s own traits – for example, I am a person who makes very limited friends not only at work but in personal life as well. But, Do I need to improve and make more friends? What is actually required at workplace? Now that I am going to be part of management (officially), what does management in industry feel about the subject being discussed? I discussed with some of my close colleagues working in different companies about their opinions. What I found was – it is really complicated!!

What does management experts have to say about it?

– Some have opinion that friendship and socialization at work boosts productivity while others think this can create problems for both individuals and businesses.
Last week, I got to read an editorial in a daily newspaper that clarified lot of things; which I want to share with you all through this post.

Socializing helps collaborationBy helping people to get to know each other, we actually help them work together. After all, it’s a team!! Talking about young colleagues who recently had come out of college life, they expect to have a good enjoyable time at work. The new generation and many older workers want a sociable workplace. According to a survey by Australian Institute of Management – "Good relationships with co-workers" was the top reason to stay in a job.

Do Friendships create conflict?So, are we saying that its wonderful thing and we should promote it religiously? Hold on to that thought. It’s not so simple. Some researchers point to its ill-effects:

• People get distracted from work due to socializing
• Breaches of confidentiality
• Blurring of boundaries between friendship and work roles
• Favoritism
• Clash of roles – Managers may find it difficult to enforce procedures with their friends
• Poor performance being overlooked or condoned
• Cliques (groups) forming

Actually, most of these effects can be attributed to poor management culture than friendship. However, it isn’t so easy to manage along with high magnitude of socializing in place. I think a line should be drawn, as we know "excess of everything is bad".

Try the common-sense approachWe have to accept the fact – Whether we think workplace friendships are good or not, they are going to happen in India. As per statistics, percent of workers meet with colleagues and having close relationships in India is higher than global average. So, rather than debating pros and cons, it is better to make sure that socializing helps and "not hinders" workplace performance. Managers and Supervisors have a role to play here:

1. Use Team building activities: It will increase the number of people who talk to each other and prevent cliques.
2.  Reward people according to performance and not time spent at the desk: This might deter them from chatting and playing games with their mates.
3. Beware of strong friendships: Strong friendships at work leads to prejudice. Think about reconfiguring the team if required.

Word of Caution: I know that we all are aware about it, but it is so important that it is never worthless to repeat – If your "Best Friend Forever" at a business turn out to work for your main competitor, be careful about what you say about your work or just find someone else to have coffee/smoke with, in that case.

PS - I hope this helps everyone at workplace. I have a belief that there are no management secrets. If pros and cons are known to you, you’ll make right decisions. After all, you’re the future Lead/Manager (if not already).

  Posted on my official blog on 13 Sep 2013