Benefits and Challenges of Work Friends

Benefits and Challenges of Work Friends

The three people I have chosen to interview do not work directly with me but I have to admit I do have the occasional interaction with them as our departments do cross paths during the course of conducting business. The names of the individuals are Dale Smith, Manager QA Distribution, Tom, Manager Traffic and Transportation and T.J. Donalds, Manager Customer Service.

I found differences and some similarities with all three individuals in the way they socialize and maintain friendships and relationships with those in a direct line reporting structure. Starting with T.J. he prefers to keep his direct reports at arms distance and doesn’t like to socialize with any of them unless it is at a work function like a banquet or group luncheon. When he travels with someone who works for him he doesn’t even like to go out and have dinner with them.

It’s not that T.J. is awkward in social settings he would just rather keep a relationship with those on his staff as a true work relationship. T.J. has peers in the business world and with those people he is very comfortable but the same with them he doesn’t do weekend things with them if he can help it but when he travels with them he is definitely friendly and will do dinner and drinks with all people at his same work level.

He actually doesn’t enjoy even socializing with his bosses but he has never turned down an invitation from one of them unless he genuinely has been unable to accept. On a personal note T.J. came to a Christmas party that my wife and I threw and he seemed to have a good time. Nobody in his direct reporting line was there but had they been I find it doubtful he wouldn’t have talked to them and made them feel at ease.

When I talked to Dale Smith his idea of socializing with subordinates was not something he avoids. He does, however, remains mindful of the reporting structure and is careful not to indulge or give away company knowledge that has yet been made public news. He prefers to maintain a friendship with those to whom he reports or those at higher levels within the company. In not so many words I think he was revealing the “keeping up appearance”.

Benefits and Challenges of Work Friends

Not that having friendships with those who work for him could damage his career or limit his chances of promotion I think he feels it’s better to be seen with those who are in higher positions at the company. Like T.J., Dale would prefer to be friends