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IS YOUR BOSS A FRIEND?

By: Trina Pineda, Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 29, 2004

Whether you like it or not, in the world of work, there will always be bosses, supervisors, or managers to report to. It is one of the workplace realities. Thus, your relationship with your boss affects the overall work environment and how you feel about your job. It can also be the basis for staying in a job or not. Motivation to work isn’t all about money anymore. People need to be treated well and feel that they are valued by their organization. And this means that their relationships at work must fulfill this need, including their relationship with their boss.

According to a recent study presented by Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development on employee retention, the quality of relationship with one’s supervisor or manager is the most important factor that employees consider in deciding to stay or leave an organization. This is particularly true for Filipinos, who by nature, put a great deal of importance on dealing with other people and relationships in general. Filipino values like pakikitungo, pakikisama, and pakikipagkapwa are used to describe relationships with each other and with a bigger community. In a culture where people try hard to be pleasant to everyone, relationships can affect people’s performance in the workplace.

This month’s People at Work Pulse tackles the relationship between boss and subordinate. It answers the questions: Do subordinates consider their boss a friend? What are the common activities that they engage in with their boss outside of work? A total of 37 people aged 24 to 46 and working in various industries responded to this People at Work Pulse survey.

PROS AND CONS

In this survey, 80 percent of respondents consider their boss a friend. In addition, 70 percent of them feel that being friends with their supervisors affect working relationships in a positive way. Being friends with the boss motivate them to work harder for the company. When the working atmosphere is light and relaxed, one can work efficiently and more productively. Open communication lines also help make the work easier and faster without fear of approaching one’s supervisor for help or advice.

On the other hand, they also warn about being too chummy with the boss and taking advantage of your friendship with him or her. Subordinates may become opportunistic and abusive of the relationship. When performance evaluations roll around, it can also become disadvantageous for other employees when superiors judge not by merit but by friendship. So it is clear that certain limitations should be set before too much familiarity begins to breed contempt.

BONDING ACTIVITIES

In most workplace, however, friendships between supervisors and subordinates are encouraged since healthy relationships have been shown to create a harmonious and productive work environment. Friendships are developed inside the office naturally when working together or through human resource programs designed specifically to enhance work relationships, like team-building sessions. Informal activities in and outside the office can also help nurture these relationships.

Chatting about personal lives seems to be one of the most common activities engaged in between supervisors and subordinates. Sixty-five percent also consider it acceptable and common practice in their workplace to ask their boss to be a sponsor at their wedding or to be a ninang or ninong (godparent) to their child. Eating out and attending parties together are also done occasionally. Playing badminton or other sports, watching movies, and shopping together, however, are less common activities between supervisors and subordinates.

IDEAL BOSS

All these suggest that employees do feel the need for some kind of personal relationship with their boss. He or she would like their supervisor to know more than just what goes on in the office but also a bit of their personal lives as well. Employees dream of having a supervisors who has not only power in the company but also a heart for subordinates. An ideal boss is defined as someone who is respectful, considerate and understanding of subordinates. The boss should also be willing to share responsibility and credit and hence, be a good team player. Good communication is also essential to the boss-subordinate relationship, as shown in the survey.

Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, authors of the book called “First Break All The Rules,” wrote, “People leave managers not companies .” In a study undertaken by the Gallup Organization, which surveyed over a million employees and 80,000 managers; it came up with a very relevant finding: that good people leave an organization because of their immediate supervisors. This just goes to show that your relationship with your boss can determine how long and happy your working life with your organization will be.

All in all, there are many benefits to having a good relationship with your boss. Other that having a more relaxed and happy environment, it can lead you to be more productive and efficient at work. Good communication with your manager can make a job much easier as you can consult without fear or being humiliated or scolded. You can also learn many things from your manager once you have already established a good working relationship. Who knows, one day he or she may be the one to make recommendation that will take your career to new heights.

For the unfortunate ones who do not have a good relationship with their boss, remember that managing your relationship with your boss is a two-way street. You need not wait for your boss to be the one to reach out to you first. Believe it or not, the top can be a lonely place to be. The next time your boss isn’t in such a great mood, remember that he or she is also under great pressure and has his or her own boss too. Not only can your boss be a friend to you, but you can be a friend to him or her too.