Team Relationships

The average modern American spends a significant portion of their life interacting with coworkers. It is not surprising that relationships in a team often extend beyond the workplace. Colleagues can become friends, but psychologists specializing in labor relations warn that workplace friendships can have pitfalls. What dangers lurk in these relationships?

Let's face it: a friendly and warm atmosphere in the office benefits both the work process and the professional development of each employee. However, such a positive climate is usually based on friendly relationships within the team, rather than on friendship. True friendship can withstand the test of work, but only under two indispensable conditions. First, friends must not mix their personal and professional lives. Secondly, if tactfulness and mutual respect are always present between friends and colleagues, problems can be avoided.

Unfortunately, not everyone is able to comply with these conditions, which is where problems often begin. In the best case scenario, this results in gossip about other employees and superiors within a 'warm and friendly circle', which can harm overall team relationships. At worst, one friend may be tempted to use their close relationship with a colleague to create a more comfortable work environment or to promote themselves.

What are we discussing? For instance, a scenario where an employee performs tasks for a friend, covers for them in front of the boss, and so on. This behavior is problematic on its own, but it becomes even worse when the victim of this mercenary friendship realizes they have been used. Conflict arises, and the entire business suffers, along with the former friends. Personally, you may hold friendships in high regard, but you should avoid exploiting them. Are you certain that you won't become a workhorse, obediently performing tasks for yourself and others? This is how psychologists justify their recommendation to separate work relationships from friendships.

Finally, let's address another question that may arise for every working person: recommendations for bosses to hire their friends for open positions in the company. HR specialists and psychologists agree that recommending a friend for a job can be risky. If either the friend or the employer is dissatisfied, the recommender may be blamed. It's best to support job-seeking friends in other ways and avoid recommending them to your employer to protect both your friendship and your career.

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