Making life better in disadvantaged communities - our thoughts on everything - from Spirit Lake Consulting, Inc.
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I have a friend whose boss, during her review, told her that she needs to be more social at work, popping into employee cubes and saying hi every now and then. My friend is a social person by nature, but does not have much in common with the people she works with and generally just likes to get her job done. Is it wrong for her boss to ask her to do this? What does this really have to do with her work ethic, which is strong and responsible?
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On that note, do you think that being TOO social in the workplace can be a negative thing? Why/why not?
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I always wonder what the line is for bosses to tell people how they have to act. I have worked at colleges where they said part of being a good colleague was to bring in cookies or doughnuts for the office every now and then! Other places I worked thought if you did not go out drinking with the group every now and then that you were not a team player. I think people who do socialize outside the office do gain a competitive advantage. You get to know your co-workers or clients better so you can understand them better at work. You may get more information, both about procedural and technical stuff and just general gossip like "Don't say anything bad about Mary in front of the boss because they are having an affair."
All that said, I am not a very social person and don't feel much need to go out with people unless I actually want to spend time with them.
Her boss may just be trying to help her. For well-meaning supervisors I think there is a line you need to walk between trying to provide helpful criticism and minding your own business.
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Yeah, it does seem like her boss is not doing her a disservice by telling her this. After all, if you work with other people, you all have to work as a team towards a common goal.
When you mentioned going out drinking with the group, I know a lot of people who this has backfired for. Drinking after work without having dinner first, can be very dangerous if you get too drunk. Nothing is more uncomfortable and distracting than walking into work the next day embaressed to run into the people you were with ...
Also, what do people think of work retreats? I know a lot of people who hate them. I think they can be a waste of time - but if you have to do it, you have to do it. I have noticed that sometimes people in the workplace complain about having no time to do things like that, but if they spent less time complaining, maybe they would have time to do their work!
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It depends were you work. I used to work at a mining company located well very far away from the city. You had travel four hours inland and live at camp. For seven days your coworkers were you're family and friends so it wasn't really bad at all. You had to have a good relationship with them because after work there was no else to hang out with. Which in my opinion was the working climate I ever had.
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