"The Dangers of Building Friendships with Colleagues Generated by Managers"
"Artificially engineered workplace friendships, orchestrated by managers, can erode trust, create conflicts of interest, and foster an environment of fear and manipulation. Discover the dangers of such forced camaraderie in our blog."
In our pursuit of happiness and contentment, there's an undeniable truth: humans crave social connections. While some may cherish a solitary life, most of us yearn for the companionship and camaraderie of our fellow human beings.
School Days and Group Dynamics
Think back to your school days. Remember when your teacher would group the class for various activities? Sometimes, you'd find yourself in a group with someone you didn't particularly get along with – it could be the school bully or simply someone you didn't favour.
On the flip side, you might discover that you're in a group with your closest friend. The feeling of relief and confidence in knowing they could conquer any challenge and excel in the assigned task was unbeatable. However, life isn't always about being grouped with your friends.
This notion of forced team-building isn't confined to the classroom; it extends to various facets of life. Whether it's maternity classes, offsite training courses, or evening classes at a local school, opportunities for team-building are everywhere. Even fitness classes, ranging from martial arts to boxing, are woven into this fabric of connection.
Workplace Dynamics and Engineered Friendships
And here's where the plot thickens: this same process has infiltrated the workplace. Managers are engineering friendships in the name of productivity. While their intentions may be commendable, the question arises – is creating team-building weekends and group events a double-edged sword? Is there a downside to being forced to be cordial with people you hardly know? After all, friendships have always been a matter of choice.
Suggesting that someone spends an afternoon grappling with a complex jigsaw puzzle alongside a total stranger might just be a cringe-worthy and embarrassing experience for two people with vastly different backgrounds, no common interests, and contrasting personalities.
A power dynamic that is ripe for abuse can be produced when managers aggressively encourage or even demand that employees become friends. Employees may feel compelled to follow the instructions of their superiors, possibly at the expense of their own interests. In these circumstances, rather than real companionship, the friendship may be motivated by fear or the need to win the boss' favour.
Employees don't need businesses to arrange these forced friendships or schedule playdates to create a harmonious working culture. True friendships with colleagues develop organically, and sometimes, productivity can be just as high when maintaining a respectful distance. Perhaps you've heard the saying, "Familiarity breeds contempt." This adage could hold true for employees who socialize outside of work, knowing each other as if they were family, only to find themselves at odds when one of them is promoted over the other. It's a precarious path to navigate.
In the quest for genuine workplace friendships, it's essential to tread carefully, respecting the individual's freedom to choose their friends. After all, authentic connections are built on voluntary bonds, not mandatory outings or awkward puzzles.
