image: This is Dr. Hilla Dotan of Tel Aviv University's Recanati Graduate School of Business Administration. view more
Credit: AFTAU
The hit television show The Office is a comedy about a dysfunctional workplace and a perfect example of how not to make friends at work. But it does ask some important questions, especially in this age of massive layoffs and unemployment. Is it good to have friends at work? Who should I become friends with? Are workplace friendships good for the organization?
Dr. Hilla Dotan of Tel Aviv University's Recanati Graduate School of Business Administration studies the power of friendship networks in the workplace and recently developed the "Relational Tendency Tool." It's a practical tool that can be used to identify the types and effects of workplace friendships. Results from Dr. Dotan's method demonstrate that workplace relationships can be managed strategically to benefit both employer and employee.
"Choosing the right friends, especially today, will not only affect your productivity, it can have direct consequences for keeping your job as companies scale down," Dr. Dotan says. "My research is especially relevant during this uncertain fiscal reality because people are resorting to creative tactics for keeping their job, or maintaining a company's output."
The Friendship Map
Dr. Dotan mapped the professional networks of 20,000 people working at both small and Fortune 500 companies in the United States. By having employees answer an online questionnaire, she was able to identify the types and significances of workplace relationships. Using this data, Dr. Dotan developed a tool which can predict the types of friendships an individual is likely to form and how the friendship improves or detracts from productivity, commitment, loyalty and turnover intentions.
This patented tool, used today by headhunter organizations, focuses mainly on healthy network building within the organization. It can determine what kind of friendships a person is likely to have and how wide one should cast a friendship net for job success. Moreover, the tool can be used to examine how an existing employee's relationships affect his own performance as well as identify the 'weakest link" in the functioning of a team.
Dr. Dotan points out that the role of friendships at work shouldn't be overlooked when it comes to efficiency and productivity. "A good friend at work can increase my willingness to get up in the morning and commit to the company," she says. "How does each friendship and the entire friendship network affect me? Is it good for the organization? Everyone should become aware of the importance of friendships at work and start asking these questions."
The Boss' Best Friend
From the employer's point-of-view, who's the best kind of friend at work? "Generally, individuals who are happier with the organization and will do extra things that are not specified in their job descriptions are good," Dr. Dotan says. "They are intrinsically motivated without expectation for any monetary rewards. They work for themselves and their professional identity. Essentially the organization becomes a part of them. These are the kinds of people who make attractive friends and employees."
While identification with the organization is important, there are other important traits to consider as well. A well-liked individual could be the key to holding team dynamics together. If a friend at the office leaves –– or is fired –– other employees could "abandon ship," creating a high employee turnover rate. "These individuals are not always obvious and managers have a responsibility to understand ways to inhibit, manage and grow workplace friendships to their advantage," she adds.
Why Can't We Be Friends?
Dr. Dotan also distinguishes between "horizontal" and "vertical" friendships. Horizontal friendships are friendships between individuals on the same hierarchical rung, and vertical friendships are between people of higher and lower ranks. "People are well advised to keep friendships on the same level," she stresses. "You can be 'friendly' with your subordinate, but it's not advisable to be his or her 'friend,'" she says.
Another tip is to stay away from emotionally-charged friendships. If a friendship ends for some reason, it could lead to critical problems at work, with your job on the line. "You should also be careful about forging strong friendships that will make you leave the organization should the other person leave or is let go," she says.
Dr. Dotan is new to Tel Aviv University. She was recruited from UCLA Anderson School of Management and is one of 23 handpicked faculty recruited from top research institutions around the world this year.
American Friends of Tel Aviv University (www.aftau.org) supports Israel's leading and most comprehensive center of higher learning. In independent rankings, TAU's innovations and discoveries are cited more often by the global scientific community than all but 20 other universities worldwide.
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