Transcript chapter 11: peer and co

Peer and Co-worker
Communication
Chapter 11
“RELATIONAL CHALLENGES”
Co-worker Communication
Peer relationships can provide a
source of intrinsic reward for the
employee, can buffer job-related
stress, and can reduce job
dissatisfaction and turnover (Kram &
Isabella, 1985)
Questions
 Why is it in the organization’s best interest to foster
co-worker relationships?
 Are people more involved, satisfied, and
participative in dyads as compared to groups?
 How does physical space affect office
relationships?
 What contributes most to worker relationship
development?
Overview
 Nature of co-worker relationships
 Strategies for developing work relationships
 Factors influencing relationship development
 Positive and negative consequences
 Relationship issues in the workplace (case study)
Nature of Relationships in
Organizations
 Two Forms of Interpersonal Relationships
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Organizational - based on organizational
structure
Personal - choice & voluntariness
Friendship is an ongoing human association
voluntarily developed and privately negotiated
 Relationships are exponentially complex
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Five Principles of Developing
Work Relationships
 #1 - Proxemics Affect Relationship Development
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Distance between ourselves and others
More opportunities to interact
Physical space affects office relationships (HOW?)
 #2 - Relationship Communication Conveys
Information and Imposes Behavior
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Two levels of messages: CONTENT and COMMAND
Command defines the relationship between the two
individuals
Five Principles of Developing
Work Relationships
 #3 - Relationships Can Be Symmetrical or
Complementary
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Interpersonal Balance
Symmetrical - both partners are equal in the relationship
Complementary - based on maximization of differences (1 up/down)
 #4 - Each Partner Has Different Interpersonal Needs
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Schutz’s FIRO-B
Inclusion, Affection, and Control
 #5 - Co-workers Can Have More Control of Each Other
Than Can Supervisors
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Income of all is dependent on work of all
Member-based control (concertive control, Chapter 5, p. 99)
Relationship Development
 Three Patterns in co-worker relationships which result in
changes in communication patterns
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Transition 1 - Acquaintance to Friend
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Transition 2 - Friend to Close Friend
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Caused by contextual (environmental factors)
Time, close proximity, sharing tasks, socializing outside of work
Driven by problems or events in both personal and work life
More time outside of work and with each other’s families
Discussion of more work-related problems (more open)
Transition 3 - Close Friend to Almost Best Friend
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Socializing outside work and shared life events
Trust and detailed discussion
Relationship Development:
Three Critical Factors
 The impact of proximity
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Telecommuting and “virtual offices”
Assimilation issues
 How superiors treat co-workers
Undeserved, favorable, and differential treatment by supervisor causes
dislike and mistrust of subordinate-- caution and isolation
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Undeserved, negative, and differential treatment by supervisor causes
increased group cohesiveness and increased interaction -- more open and
decrease in communication editing
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Deserved unfavorable treatment = distance from ‘problem employee’
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Deserved favorable treatment = respect, approval, conduit to supervisor
 Social Exchange Theory (Thibaut and Kelley, 1959)
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Maximum pleasure and minimum pain
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Predicts the likelihood that relationships will develop
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Consequences of Work
Relationships
 Positive Consequences
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Support system - information and feedback
Greater loyalty
Fosters success
Increases satisfaction and organizational identification
 Negative Consequences - MISUSES
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commodity - political currency
information retrieval - not ordinarily available
co-dependency - can’t function independently
against one’s own interest - opportunities for advancement
Strains on Friendship and Work Relationships (Figure 11.1, p. 202)
Strains on Friendships and
Work Relationship
 Strains Caused by Work
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Egalitarian nature negated
Management of information
Need for autonomy
Violation of consensus desires
Negative feedback
Public displays of friendship minimized
 Strains Caused by Friendship
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Objectivity damaged
Management of inequalities
Socializing affecting performance
Management of organizational information
Friends held to a higher standard
Strengthening Work
Relationships
 Providing Positive Feedback
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Increased morale
Fosters support
 Mediate Conflict
 Discuss Communication (metacommunication)
Developing Relationships at
Work
 Develop your closest friendships outside of
work
 Don’t start an intimate relationship at work
unless you are prepared to cope with the
consequences
 Recognize that males and females will cope
with friendships at work differently
Healthy Work Relationship
Criteria
 Individual excellence
 Importance (of
strategic objectives)
 Interdependence
 Investment
 Information
 Integration
 Institutionalization
(formal status)
 Integrity
CASE STUDY
 If you were Dave, what would you do?
 What can Dave do in the future to prevent this type
of thing from happening again?
 How would you characterize Dave’s
communication style? Steve’s Bob’s?
Summary
 Nature of co-worker relationships
 Strategies for developing work relationships
 Factors influencing relationship development
 Positive and negative consequences
 Relationship issues in the workplace (case study)
Peer and Co-worker
Communication
Communication with peers at work
creates a strong bond between the
employee and organization!