Boundary lines: Effective relationships with staff that maintain professionalism
Most managers want to have quality relationships with their staff members so that departments and offices can run smoothly and managers can maximize the productivity of their staff. There are a myriad of ways to manage people, and plenty of individuals have suggested ways to build effective teams. The reality is that some managers have a definitive strategy while others truthfully make things up as they go along. Unfortunately some managers try too hard to be friends with their employees, which makes them unable to manage their staff through conflict and difficulties. Therefore, here are a few thoughts on how to have effective relationships with staff while still maintaining professionalism.
Being real
For many individuals, the key to building relationships start with being real. Granted, this may be hard for some managers because they feel that they have to maintain a certain level of authority and professional distance from their employees. While it is true that managers should remember their hierarchical place, this doesn’t mean that they should take on a different persona in the office. Unfortunately, some managers are afraid of being too “personal” with their staff, so they are intentionally guarded in the office setting. This may limit the risk of improper relationships, but it can also make social interactions a bit awkward on a daily basis. The professionalism may be there, but the relationship may be lacking.
Friendly, but not necessarily friends
Maintaining professionalism does not mean that bosses cannot be friendly with their employees. In most cases, it is still acceptable to ask people about various aspects of their life and get to know them beyond their written job description. Granted, managers always have to be careful that they do not ask questions that are too personal. Rather, it is typically better to let the employee set the boundaries in terms of topics. Over time, an employee and a supervisor can certainly develop a relationship that is similar to friendship, but there will always be a formal boundary that must be respected.
Facebook and other distractions
Social networking has had a profound impact on how people communicate in today’s society. The dilemma that some people face is whether they should connect with their supervisor on various network sites such as Facebook. This can be a tricky situation because individuals can be prone to post all sorts of personal information on their social networking sites. Sometimes the boss does not necessarily want to know what his or her employee does on the weekend. Therefore, being friends on Facebook may push the boundaries of personal relationships between supervisors and employees.
Still have some fun
Ultimately, supervisors can still have fun with their employees in the workplace and a rapport can be developed. Just because bosses want to maintain professionalism does not mean that they should be afraid to add a little levity to the daily office situation. Taking the staff out to lunch, having celebrations in the office, and doing activities as a staff can help create a team atmosphere. Relationships cannot be forced, and sometimes bosses try too hard to connect with their staff. However, there is a balance that can be struck, and supervisors should always work to maintain professionalism but still build a close and cohesive team.
