Given the significant time we spend at work, we tend to be friends with our colleagues in an ideal world, except for our bosses, which may not always be possible regardless of how well we get along and how relaxed an office setting is.
According to a Glassdoor survey, 51% of employees claim to have a best friend at work. While close work relationships offer benefits such as increased engagement, support, and reduced stress, they can also result in awkward situations. Here are some reasons why being friends with your boss may not be a good idea.
1. Blurred Boundary Between Work and Personal Life
Being friends with your boss blurs the line between work and personal life, as having a boss-friend dynamic can create an uneven relationship, especially when one person has authority over the other. You might feel more inclined to fulfill requests and maintain a good relationship with someone who signs your paycheck. As you're aware of each other's private lives, maintaining professionalism also becomes challenging, which can result in situations showing favoritism over your co-workers.
2. A Friend Doesn't Take Directives Seriously
It could be challenging for a friend to view someone who was once an equal as an authority figure, leading to missing deadlines or neglecting tasks. When a friend doesn't take your requests as a manager seriously, it affects productivity and how others perceive you as a manager.
3. Being Too Candid at Team Meetings
A friend might know more about your personal life than other team members. They might mention something you shared from the weekend or a post-work gathering over meetings, creating a sense of exclusion for the rest of the team and making it challenging for them to respect you.
4. Your Friend Expects You to Give Them a Raise
Balancing professional responsibilities with personal relationships, such as recommending salary adjustments, can lead to potential conflicts of interest or perceptions of favoritism. It's crucial to navigate such situations carefully to maintain a fair and unbiased work environment.
5. Constructive Criticism Becomes Complicated
Having a boss-friend can lead to a lack of honest feedback about your performance, which is crucial for personal and professional growth. This reluctance could hinder your progress as you may continue making the same mistakes without the necessary constructive criticism.
6. Healthy Work-Life Balance Can Be Tough
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance becomes challenging with a boss-friend relationship. Casual outings may turn into work-related discussions, and conversations over drinks might involve discussions about colleagues, creating trust issues and complicating work dynamics. Personal information shared during social gatherings could also have repercussions in the workplace.
It's acceptable to be friends with your boss, especially if they signal a desire for friendship. Still, it's essential to be mindful of its potential disadvantages and proceed cautiously.
