A common dilemma facing a manager is whether or not they should socialize with team members outside of the workplace. While more and more companies are including team-building events into the regular culture of the company with team dinners or happy hours, the bigger question is about making connections outside of office functions.
Reminder, Building a Cohesive Team Matters
There are several workplace benefits to building relationships among employees. Here are just a handful to consider:
- Increased Trust
- Better Communication
- Greater Collaboration & Cohesion
- Increased Motivation
- Reduced Stress
Managers should absolutely strive to build a cohesive culture for their team. But it’s important to remember that a strong team is not built outside of work in social settings. Team development should happen during office hours.
The Risks of Being Too Social with Your Employees
If you include social situations in your efforts to build a cohesive team, you run the risk of creating an unbalanced team dynamic that can cause turmoil instead. Here are some of the risks that can happen when the professional and social realms mix more than they should.
- Favoritism: You could inadvertently show signs of favoritism if you become too close with some of your employees but not everyone. This can negatively impact morale and even employee retention if it goes unchecked.
- Blurred lines between personal and professional situations: If you become very close with your employees, employees could take personal offense to a professional decision you make.
- Harder to provide critical feedback: Giving construction and critical feedback is a key aspect of being a strong and capable leader. If the lines between manager and friend become blurred, it can be uncomfortable to provide necessary feedback.
Consider These Do’s & Don’ts for Socializing with Your Team
Socializing with team members isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it mostly comes down to how well you are able to establish boundaries and stand firm. Considering some basic do’s and don’ts can help you create boundaries that will allow you to build a trusting and cohesive team environment while still maintaining your clear managerial role.
DO connect with team members on professional networks like LinkedIn if you can be sure that you won’t be offended by any personal slant that your employees post. While professional networks like LinkedIn are fantastic for expanding your Rolodex of professional connections, they are not strictly a place for professional news.
DON’T share deep personal information with your employees. It’s best to maintain a professional level of connection with your employees rather than risk making the workplace an uncomfortable setting for you or your employees.
DO keep alcoholic consumption to a minimum. One of the most unprofessional occurrences that can happen in a social event or even a company event is when employees, especially managers, drink too much. You might choose to keep all events with employees dry to avoid the risks that can come with providing alcohol.
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