We spend a majority of our time working and eventually we develop friendships at work, some even a close-knit one, if they are lucky. At some point, you might be in the situation where you ask yourself "Is having your boss as your close friend a good idea?
A lot is expected from a good leader these days. The emphasis seems to fall on building friendly relationships with your workers.
'Leadership can actually be distilled down to one very tangible measurement; the quality of your relationships', Mike Myatt writes in Forbes Magazine.
The emphasis seems to fall on building friendly relationships with your workers.
The Guardian readers were recently asked whether people would befriend their bosses on Facebook. The response was an overwhelming 'no', with 87% of readers saying bosses should not be your Facebook buddies.
So, should employees befriend their bosses in real life? Can there ever be a true friendship between the two, or not? Here are some thoughts to consider:
1. Think Favoritism
Being friends with your boss could create tension between you and other colleagues, and favoritism could occur.Many would that the promotions you recently got were due to your close relationship with your boss.
2. It makes performance management difficult.
"Your boss has to be able to discipline his employees, and see them as employees and not close friends" Mark D, Wakefield Bosses may not be able to discipline their employees who are their friends and may also not be able to remain objective.
3. No Secret is Safe
You might tell your buddy about the highs and lows of your personal life or whine about a colleague who is getting on your nerves. But should you feel just as free to vent to your boss? Anytime you provide your boss with a piece of information, don't tell your boss anything that could come back to haunt you. You could end up arming the person who has the power to promote or fire you with your dirty little secrets.
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