Is it possible to control social behaviour in the workplace without being a dictator?
Are your employees allowed to enjoy their work or is it all business only with no room for showing emotion? Today more than ever organizations are so focussed on business that they ignore the need for people to be socially active.
That will depend on what they are busy doing. Most managers are under the impression that the place of business must be grim and permanently in serious mode.
As long as they are not laughing at you it should be seen as acceptable social behaviour.
It is true that business and tasks must be taken seriously but it does not mean productivity must be sacrificed every time somebody laughs.
Not being able to express feelings freely can cause bigger damage to your organization and your productivity. At the end of the day, humans need to interact to remain human.
Employees spend most of their time at work and it is normal that experiences are shared there. In a positive work environment, these experiences are part of employee development.
Unfortunately to those who do not have any experience other than the seriousness of business this will seem like unacceptable behaviour.
Prohibiting the occasional laughter and sharing of experiences has negative effects such as
Allowing employees some level of freedom but also knowing when to refocus the group will eventually pay off. Employees will learn to know the boundaries and refocus themselves.
Remember to be a leader and staff will follow. Being a boss can be deadly to your productivity expectations and not allowing a certain level of social interaction can quickly turn workplaces into toxic environments.
Are your employees allowed to enjoy their work or is it all business only with no room for showing emotion? Today more than ever organizations are so focussed on business that they ignore the need for people to be socially active.
- What is social behaviour?
- Is socializing at work acceptable?
- Why is social interaction important?
- How do you control social behaviour?
- Social behaviour in the workplace - Conclusion
What is social behaviour?
Social behaviour is the manner in which individuals develop themselves in order to play a positive role in society or the workplace.
At the core of social behaviour is the need for interaction between people who have common interests. Without social interaction employees cannot expand their knowledge or develop an innovative frame of mind.
Employees spend the largest part of their life in the workplace and it is important that their colleagues are part of their social circle. Social behaviour develops from these interactions with other humans and at the end of the day will determine how your team can work together.
Negative social behaviour develops when individualism is encouraged by leadership perception. Leaders will often see social interaction in the workplace as a barrier to productivity.
Is socializing in the workplace acceptable?
Is there a lack of seriousness and productivity when you hear your team laughing?That will depend on what they are busy doing. Most managers are under the impression that the place of business must be grim and permanently in serious mode.
As long as they are not laughing at you it should be seen as acceptable social behaviour.
It is true that business and tasks must be taken seriously but it does not mean productivity must be sacrificed every time somebody laughs.
Not being able to express feelings freely can cause bigger damage to your organization and your productivity. At the end of the day, humans need to interact to remain human.
Employees spend most of their time at work and it is normal that experiences are shared there. In a positive work environment, these experiences are part of employee development.
Unfortunately to those who do not have any experience other than the seriousness of business this will seem like unacceptable behaviour.
Prohibiting the occasional laughter and sharing of experiences has negative effects such as
- Low employee morale
- Non-participation in team activities
- Employee burnout
- Low productivity
- Non-interest in organizational goals
- Poor communication
- Resistance to authority
Low employee morale
Where there are restrictions on positive human interaction you will always find a toxic workplace with negative social behaviour patterns. Employees will come across as unmotivated and introverted.
Non-Participation in team activities
The train of thought leadership indirectly encourage is that of non-participation. Employees will soon take separate paths and find no benefit in team activities which will include working together.
Employee burnout
Demanding a social workplace behaviour that excludes interaction with others will affect your employee mentally and cause burnout. They will either remain and underperform or leave quickly for greener pastures.
Low productivity
It is obvious that where there are low morale and a toxic workplace you will find zero productivity.
Non-Interest in organizational goals
For non-motivated employees, organizational goals mean nothing but another empty statement by leadership.
Poor communication
Not being allowed to socially interact with others will not encourage any other form of positive communication. The only communication you will pick up as a leader is negative communication that impacts your targets and goals.
Why is social behaviour important for business?
As a leader, it is important to understand that no human, including yourself, will remain focused on work 24/7. Most leaders will argue that that is how they operate but the difference is that they can "switch off" anytime they want and they do it when it suits them.The normal employee does not have that type of luxury and will use any time of the day for social interaction.
Scientifically it was proven that non-focused tasks realign the brain into a more active state should it be called on again.
In other words, the brain needs to reboot in order to be able to remain focused. A brain focusing on a specific task or action for too long will be less productive than a relaxed mind.
A team sharing a laugh every now and then will be able to focus and perform better. There are many hidden benefits in allowing your employees to have a light chatter every now and then.
In other words, the brain needs to reboot in order to be able to remain focused. A brain focusing on a specific task or action for too long will be less productive than a relaxed mind.
A team sharing a laugh every now and then will be able to focus and perform better. There are many hidden benefits in allowing your employees to have a light chatter every now and then.
These benefits will include:
- Positive team spirit
- Productive teamwork
- Employee development
- Focused interest
- Positive social behaviour
Positive team spirit
Because of the ability to freely communicate at a social level employees will also develop bonds that will create a pleasant work environment where all employees are included.
Productive teamwork
Because of the all-inclusiveness approach of your employees taking responsibility and accountability will come natural. When people interact at a social level it is more common that they will operate better together as a team.
Employee development
Through positive team interaction skills are shared and it is the perfect way to encourage others to develop the same skills. In this way, all of your employees will be operating at the same skill level and communication becomes easier.
Focused interest
When individuals become part of a highly functional team they feel more valued as an individual. This sense of belonging ensures that each team member will focus on the same objectives and goals.
Positive social behaviour
A workplace can only function well if employees understand what acceptable social behaviour is and how it affects business outcomes. Social interaction is the perfect way to encourage positive behaviour and set limits on negative behaviour.
How do you control social behaviour?
It is not a question of controlling your employees to the extent of being a dictator. It is all about them developing a sense of what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. By laying down strict workplace guidelines it is possible to let employees know what acceptable behaviour is and where to draw the line.
Allowing employees some level of freedom but also knowing when to refocus the group will eventually pay off. Employees will learn to know the boundaries and refocus themselves.
Remember to be a leader and staff will follow. Being a boss can be deadly to your productivity expectations and not allowing a certain level of social interaction can quickly turn workplaces into toxic environments.
Social behaviour in the workplace - Conclusion
It is acceptable to control employees' social behaviour in the workplace to a certain extent to prevent it from interfering with productivity and processes.
It is however not a healthy practice to totally ban all social interaction between employees because it is a normal human practice to seek out interaction with others.
That is how people build knowledge, gain experience and learn how to function as teams. It is important for the organizational culture to develop an acceptable level of social behaviour through proper management.
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