5 reasons why being friends with coworkers is a bad idea
Miscellaneous / / April 15, 2021
Awkward situations, distractions, conflicts of interest, and more.
This article is part of the project “One on one». In it we talk about relationships with ourselves and others. If the topic is close to you, share your story or opinion in the comments. Will wait!
According to an American pollResearch on friends at workheld in 2019, only 15% of people believe that their colleagues have real friends. Moreover, in 2004 this figure reachedWe don’t hang out with our coworkers up to 30%, and in 1985 - up to 50%.
In Russia, no one has conducted similar studies, and, perhaps, given the difference in mentality, these indicators will be higher. But the basic idea remains the same: Not everyone is willing to make friends at work. And here are some reasons why it makes sense.
1. Friends are more likely to be distracted
And they admit it themselves when they participateAre Workplace Friendships a Mixed Blessing? Exploring Tradeoffs of Multiplex Relationships and their Associations with Job Performance in the survey. Here, in general, everything is logical. If a friend works in the next office, there are much more temptations to go to the smoking room or drink an extra cup of tea in pleasant company. As well as chatting with each other in the messenger or just chatting while you work.
This is unlikely to have a huge impact on results, but working with such a powerful distraction around can be difficult.
2. More friends - fewer alternative opinions
Yes, during one of the polls it turned outStrong ties, weak ties and islands: structural and cultural predictors of organizational innovationthat teams that consist of friends are less likely to come up with fresh innovative ideas, since all of them participants tend to think in approximately the same direction, support each other's opinions and not enter into disputes. But discussions, if conducted in a civilized manner, on the contrary, can lead people to interesting decisions.
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3. Separating the personal from the worker can be difficult
Especially if people often communicate in the process of work, and not just sit somewhere in different departments. Switching over and seeing in front of you not just a friend, but also a colleague can be difficult. As well as putting the professional above the personal.
Therefore, difficult and unpleasant situations are not excluded. For example, such:
- The man expressed a stupid idea, but no one dared to tell him about it: they did not want to offend a friend.
- Some of the employees occasionally mumble, but they turn a blind eye to this out of friendship.
- When conflict situation people take the side of a friend - whether he is right or not - and are prejudiced against his opponent.
- It is much more difficult to be strict with a friend, especially if they are having difficult times. So the workflow may suffer.
- If friends quarrel violently outside of work, it is possible that it will be difficult for them to cooperate for a while. And at work, a conflict will also flare up.
4. Friendship is incompatible with competition
If both friends are in roughly the same positions and have similar career goals, their relationship can become a problem. Because a friend is also a competitor.
And you have to solve a difficult ethical dilemma: be tough and try to earn a higher position without looking back at your friend and his feelings, or be gentle and miss a good career opportunity. A balance between these two extremes is possible, but it can be difficult to achieve.
5. Friendship is not forever
People periodically break off relationships. Sometimes - on a very unpleasant note. And after one of them set the other up, said nasty things to him, or did something else bad, they still have to come to work in the morning and communicate. It's not as hard as it is when a romantic couple breaks up, but it's also pretty awkward.
And if people manage to quarrel so that they turn from friends into enemies, each of them will have personal information about the other. It will be enough to spread gossip, put pressure on pain points and do nasty things. And this can have a great effect on both the career and the psychological climate in the team.
So, before getting along with a person, including in a friendly way, you should carefully ask how he speaks about past friends.
Of course, there are also positive aspects. People who have friends in the team are betterTeams work better with a little help from your friends get the job done and get moreItem 10: I Have a Best Friend at Work attention and support. They feelItem 10: I Have a Best Friend at Work themselves important and share the mission of the company.
However, it is worth remembering that you come to work in order to solve certain problems and earn money. And friendship can sometimes get in the way.
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