Friendships in organisations
Friends: “A single soul dwelling in two bodies – Aristotle”
Friendships - a powerful force
- for or against the organisation
Friendships are recognized as a special type of interpersonal relationship that endures over time and in which participants depend on one another for various things from affection to material assistance. Friendships are characterized by their voluntary quality and vary greatly in duration and intensity. Friendship is seen as a new and important human phenomenon to understand because friendships within the organisation can help or hinder that organisation.
Research on ‘Friendship’
- 22% employees said workplace friendships were very positive on productivity
- Only 2% of executives agreed with very positive
- Nearly 1/3 managers believe “Familiarity breeds contempt” – there’s no place for friendships at work
- Your vital friend improves the quality of your life
- If your best friend has a healthy diet – you are 5 times more likely to do likewise
Problems of friendships in organisations
- Tight knit groups can form cliques
- Some people may feel excluded (outgroup)
- The closer people become, the bigger the fallout when friendships go belly up
- Friendships may become messily romantic
- Across hierarchy friendship ‘favouritism’
- Promotion vs friend conflict
Benefits of friendships in organisations
- Employee satisfaction jumps 50% when they have a close friend at work
- People with close friends at work are more satisfied with their pay
- People with 3 or more close friends at work were 96% more likely to be extremely satisfied with their lives
- Close friends at work related to organisation commitment and lower turnover [Dr Rachael Morrison, University of Technology, Auckland
Two studies (n=142 & n=412) ]
- Low level of group friendship is related to higher (worse) group conflict (Labianca, Bras & Gray, 1998 Academy of Management Journal)
- Friendships are conduits for coordination during a crisis (Krackhardt & Stern, 1988, Social Psychology Quarterly)
Friendships in the workplace promotes:
- .Lower turnover
- Higher productivity
- More helpfulness
- Fewer ‘sickies’
There is also much to gain by understanding how they can go pear-shaped.
Benefits to people of having ‘best’ friendships
- A best friend is someone who wants me to succeed
- A best friend protects my back
- A best friend – I trust
Contact us to:
- audit hidden social networks and friendship relationships that may be counterproductive to the organisation
- expose (map) helpful relationships that deserve encouragement
- help develop a climate in which helpful friendships can flourish
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