Should supervisors keep distance from employees? *poll*

[Alchemist99]

I was wondering If it's a good idea to real friendly with employees or the people you manage, or if it's better just to keep it professional and keep a boundary between you and your crew or subordinates.

 

[MustyTang]

The best and most productive work environments that I have been a part of have been when the supervisor was approachable on a personal and professional level. I think supervisors with a good mix of both get the most out of their employees.

 

[Gurck]

Poll questions which aren't the same as their title-topic questions = teh bad

 

[Bateluer]

Mix of both. You need to be able to talk to your supervisors and respect them like the failable human beings they are.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: MustyTang
The best and most productive work environments that I have been a part of have been when the supervisor was approachable on a personal and professional level. I think supervisors with a good mix of both get the most out of their employees.

ditto

 

[jtusa]

The best managers I've ever had I was friends with outside work. Being friends with them makes me respect them more so they don't have to worry about me making them look good. They look out for me as a boss and I look out for them as a subordinate(making sure I do what I'm supposed to plus any extra I need to).

 

[PlasticJesus]

In the USMC we used to say that "familiarity breeds contempt".

I vote yes for approachable, but no for chummy.

 

[Alchemist99]

Originally posted by: Gurck
Poll questions which aren't the same as their title-topic questions = teh bad

Wtf are you talking about?????

 

[wfbberzerker]

it depends what type of job it is. if they employers/supervisors treat the employees as equals, then morale is much higher, but they still need to be able to put their foot down or enforce rules if need be.

 

[BlamoHammer]

You also have to know who you can be chummy with and who you can't. Many people I have worked with simply cannot realize that while you may be friends outside of work, once we walk in the doors, our friendship is put on hold.

I agree with any supervisor needing to be approachable and friendly however.

 

[Kibbo]

It depends on the type of work/employees involved.

For low skill/low motivation scenarios, (Walmart) distance works better, with a slightly authoritarian (but not insensitive) attitude.

For High skill/motivation, like a microprocessor design team, a friendlier, more collegial attitude will work better.

Of course, it also depends on what the manager can pull off. In either case, a fake will be smoked out.

 

[jagec]

If both parties are competent, and share some interests, chummy can work out. If they don't share interests, or at least some respect for each other, chummy will be totally fake and suck.