Running Head: PORTFOLIO PROJECT 1

PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Working with Friends and Family in the Workplace

Adrianna Blake, Heather Antkowski, Kelly Davidson, Samantha Fitchwell, Vanessa Benning,

and Chris Baun

Bryant and Stratton College

Interpersonal and Group Dynamics

Professor B. Straight

October 20th, 2017

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Communication in the workplace is very important. When employees communicate

effectively in the workplace it improves the organization’s overall performance. When working

with family and friends, unclear expectations can be damaging to workplace communication

leaving employees frustrated and confused.

Workplace relationships can have its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage of

workplace relationships is having trust between the co-workers. When co-workers have a

trusting relationship, they are willing to engage in positive cooperative activity (Methot, Lepine.,

Podsakoff, & Christian, 2016, p 328). Another advantage of having workplace relationships is

having someone there that can provide emotional support. Employees will have someone that

can provide emotional support which will help to dissolve emotional distractions and increase

productivity as well a job performance.

There can also be some disadvantages of workplace relationships. Favoritism can cause

conflict within the workplace. It can cause low morale and harm the reputation of your

organization (Mindtools, 2017, para 6). Favoritism can also have key employees removing

themselves from the workplace because they fear their career development is being blocked. On

the other hand, you may be quick to discount the ideas of your friends and family stifling their

creativity.

Organizations have come up with rules to block some of the conflict that may come with

workplace relationships. They may have a policy that forbids personal relationships between

employees or a rule in their employee handbook preventing nepotism within the organization.

To improve communication in workplace relationships the employees should talk out any issues,

agree to make the atmosphere of the workplace less personal and more professional, make sure
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everyone knows what their roles are in the workplace and clarify the specific goals of each

individual (Javitch, 2006, para.5).

Most of us think “friends and family” when it comes to interpersonal relationships. What

we tend to forget is that the average American spends 50 hours or more at work (Articles. n.d.,

para.1). This then puts a heavier emphasis on co-working relations, and actually brings a

realization to light. The fact of the matter is that we spend more time, and conversation with co-

workers than we do our closest friends and family. The relationships are almost un-avoidable in

a sense. As previously stated there are both positives and negatives associated with interoffice

relations, however… if you don’t work alone they are unavoidable. Working through daily

events, completing tasks, celebrating achievement’s, and working through obstacles are a perfect

set-up for creating lasting bonds. Within the workplace these bonds can also be positive or

negative. Did the positive bond come from a co-worker helping you out of a jam? Or did the

negative bond come from them stiffing you out of a promotion?

The difficulty usually arises when the workplace seems disrupted. We then start to label

our co-workers as “lazy,” “rude,” or “jerks” because our personal needs are not being met

(Foster,2017, para.3). Maybe we are upset because the boss allowed a co-worker the day off but

not others. Or maybe a co-worker tends to get things faster for their “office in-group,” and

leaves you waiting. “The problem must be with them” we tend to think. However, the people

who are characterized as the problem tend to not be aware of it at all. This creates a whole new

aspect of difficulty in group situations within the workplace.

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This creates limitations on productivity, communication, satisfaction, and motive. People

may be selective on who they ask questions, race through projects, silence their opinions, and

selectively enforce policy.

Every relationship you encounter will have its difficulties. Relationships in the workplace

tend to be particularly more complex for many reasons. There can be many types of different

relationships created in the workplace. There is a possibility you could have friends in the

workplace, family, and even a significant other. All three of these situations pose different

challenges with communication.

Family bonds are the ones we are born into or enter through marriage. These bonds tend

to be the strongest and the closest bonds while they can be the most difficult to be around in a

workplace. Friendship bonds are often the most enjoyable bonds of a workplace and can come

with great reward. These bonds are often the most satisfying and lead to a lifelong friendship

(CapitalEAP, 2016). The third and final relationship bond you can have in a workplace is that of

a spouse. Perhaps the most emotional and tough relationship to keep healthy while working

together.

While all three of these connections are all very different, they can pose the same

difficulties. Unclear boundaries, communication issues and differing dynamics can all play a part

in complications at work. In order to avoid said difficulties, one must start with defining clear

boundaries. When there are vague limits set within the bond in relation to work, it can very

easily be over stepped and not taken seriously. One must also take into consideration the

differing dynamics of the same relationship in different places. The dynamic of the relationship

will be very different at work than it is at home. Both of those things will lead to communication
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issues both in life and in the workplace. Since both of these things are never clearly defined and

easily worked through, many complications with communication do seem to arise.

Sorting out the Issues of Working with Family can be very difficult, but on the flip side can be

quite rewarding. If you have ever worked with a family member, there was a moment in time where

the words may have been muttered; “But were family” On the positive side, one of the best things

about working with family (and maybe one of the worst too) is the familiarity you have with one

another. There is an ease of movement that you have with family and friends that you do not

have with the world at large, and when you get along well with that person, that can really work

to your benefit. By the same token, friends and family members know your strengths and

weaknesses, and that too can come in very handy in the workplace. Especially if you work with a

family member who has different strengths than you, then that give and take can save time and

hassle, since you have already spent years together.

Another great thing about working with family is that you will have someone around

whom you can really trust. Not that you cannot trust your regular employees or partners of

course, but there is just something about family that takes trust to a higher level. The negative

side brings another list of challenges family members may even feel that the normal rules do not

apply to them, The bottom line is that, unless you have an incredibly good fit, and everyone

understands the rules and you have set up some guidelines, working together runs the very real

risk of damaging all sorts of family relationships if things go south. Communicating and setting

up boundaries and implementing a performance management program would be essential for

every employee to understand their job and position within the company. Lack of

communication and discipline create misunderstandings, which increase stress, escalating

conflicts, weakening bonds and eventually ending relationships. It is important to look forward
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and not back when dealing with family/work relationship issues. Resist your tendency to analyze

every detail of what’s happened in your relationship. Who said what? Why did they say it? This

isn’t productive. Lots of people think that it’s only by understanding the past that we get beyond

it. But what you focus on is what grows. So think about what’s worked well previously, what

you like about the person, and what you want from the relationship. Take a solution-focused

approach, not a diagnostic one (hbr.org/2014).

The goal to this solution is to minimize the occurrences of issues that can arise when

there is a conflict of interest when working with family or friends in the workplace. You have to

see beyond the problem itself and beyond the obvious (Llopis, G. 2013). Requirements to this

solution involve seeing that this problem has the potential to change practices, protocols, and

standard procedures in the workplace. Issues should be viewed as an enabler for continuous

improvement. According to Llopis, the first step in coming up with a solution is to have good

communication with your team where everyone can express their concerns and viewpoints.

Second, you analyze the problem, gather facts, and consider pros and cons of possible solutions.

Third is to be open minded as to the benefits of how the issues will help succeed in the long run.

Lastly, you need a solid strategy implemented, including the right people and the right resources.

Limitations to be placed on the solution should be for example, two siblings are working on

the same hospital unit, one sibling should not have to lose their job entirely but simply be moved

to another unit based on seniority. It is important for employees to work in a professional work

environment. One that has policies, procedures and systems in place in order for employees to

have satisfaction in the workplace (Trefalt, S. 2013). According to Trefalt, it is important for

organizations to take action when an assessment of an issue demonstrates that the organization is

likely to be affected. Setting boundaries in the workplace between work life and life outside of
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work is important, therefore work relationships should remain professional. As a result, a conflict

of interest will not arise.

There are many solutions to improving the difficulties that arise from working with

friends and family. Like any other relationship it is essential for you to communicate effectively

and in a professional manner in order to establish a positive working relationship (Alston, B.,

2016, para. 2). Something that seems basic can be hard to accomplish especially when working

with others who you are closely connected with. Good communication starts with good listening

and being open-minded. This can be best accomplished by facing problems face to face and

understanding where the other person is coming from (Alston, T.,2016, para. 3-6).

The next solution is to avoid nepotism by setting boundaries and agree on objectives. It is

best to have an open and honest conversation with your friend/family member before starting

work together. This way you are able to set protocols for behavior and establish goals towards

keeping a professional relationship in the workplace. Also, write a job description that outlines

their responsibilities, your expectations, and their performance objectives or vice versa. This can

prevent ambiguity, and sets the tone for the relationship. Clear, honest communication like this

also helps you avoid issues later on (Lukiyanova, N.,2017, para. 14-21).

Lastly, which is the hardest of them all, leave history and personal matters at the door.

What happens outside of work should stay outside and what happens at work stays at work. This

can sometimes be accomplished by separation, while at work separate yourself from that friend

or family member. Also, try to be transparent while at work with each other. This can help with

separation and “Being transparent with family members who are employees or partners is the key

to success.” (Nguyen, N., 2012, para. 14). It is critical to leave out emotions and keep

professionalism by reacting rationally and constructively.

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The first solution, being open-minded and willing to listen is one of the best solutions to a

good working relationship but can be difficult to achieve. This solution is great because it is a

solution to not only family and friend relationship in the workplace but also in any relationship.

It could remedy the difficulty when used correctly. As mentioned this solution is hard to

accomplish and take a strong person to truly be open-minded and listen (Alston, T.,2016, para. 3-

6).

Setting boundaries can be a great way to establish a healthy work relationship and a

professional relationship from the start. By being open and honest from the start this can overall

avoid confrontation in the future and everyone one knows what is expected. This remedies the

difficulty because it avoids the difficulty from the start (Lukiyanova, N.,2017, para. 14-21).

The last solution is to leave history and personal life at the door. It is important to keep

work as work and home life as home. This can remedy difficulty because it keeps the

relationship professional and doesn’t connect two different parts of someone’s life. This solution

can work well but can be hard to achieve. Especially when working with close friends or family

(Nguyen, N., 2012, para. 14).

Based on the solutions that we were able to come up with this satisfies the criteria or the

issues that we are trying to solve. Setting boundaries, leaving personal life at home, not mixing

friends with business, not working with family or friends, and keeping your social life and your

work life apart. All of these implementations of solutions support the original problem in solving

conflicts between work and social life. All of the solutions that we came up with have a

correlation to the problem, therefore none of them will not satisfy the criteria. Keeping your

social life and work life may be hard for some people, and many may be upset or fail to do so,

but this will greatly impact your work life and lead you to be more successful and concentrate on
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your job. Involving outside drama in your job gets in the way of your performance and

negatively effects your goal in the workplace.

When you communicate professionally many benefits may arise. Workplace

communication improves, job satisfaction increases, and there is less office turn-over. Keeping

it professional overall improves company performance, and moral. Employees have to feel

important, secure, and empowered. With professional communication in place they feel more

like part of a team. When it comes to family members however, this can be more of a balancing

game. Setting boundaries is good (if not necessary,) but can leave family members feeling

discouraged and stressful. In this case however the benefits far outweigh the consequences.

This will push out favoritism, personal arguments, and keep things productive. Keeping that line

between “home and work” is a much-needed balance for success.

Reading the solutions from Ms. Davidson, I feel that you are spot on. Communication is

always key. The door is always open for discussion and the ways to complete a task may be

more than what has presented. There is a time and place for communication and job assignments

or disagreements should not be aired in front of everyone. Boundaries within the workplace are

essential. Hierarchy is set and the rank and file knows what is expected of them. Job

specifications are produced and issued to everyone. All personnel know what management’s

expectations are and how each employee must perform. Family and friends are not to be

excluded from this. They must know their place in order to keep order within the organization.

Working with friends and family members can be stressful. Issues that may occur while

in the workplace should be discussed between those who are involved. It is always best to have

more than one solution to solving a problem. If one solution does not work you will have more
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options to take into consideration. Good communication in any type of relationship will aid in

solving these problems. Good communication also supports a healthy workplace environment.

In addition to communication, civility and transparency can diffuse potential problems that may

occur while working with those we have a more personal relationship with.

With many solutions to choose from, the steps to implementing them may not be as clear.

To start out, it is best to set clear and honest boundaries when working with others you are

closely connected with. To begin this, open and authentic communication is needed. In addition,

great communication is needed throughout the whole work period. Working with an individual in

your life can get sticky quick, so talking with them about issues swiftly is a must. Along with

setting boundaries, one must also set clear lines about what is discussed at work and at home. It

is smart to keep work matters at work and personal matters at home. Leaving your home life at

the door is hard, like previously mentioned, but it is an absolute must. By following all of these

rules, problems with communication and working with loved ones is not an inevitable fail. Be

clear, be authentic, communicate and set boundaries and one will succeed.
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References

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http://www.culturatech.com/blog/article/the-essentials-on-communicating-in-the-

workplace.

Avenue, N. (2017). How family businesses can set work/family boundaries. Retrieved October

12, 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2017/03/08/how-family-

businesses-can-set-workfamily-boundaries/#437f7bff2a80

CapitalEAP. (2016). The challenges of workplace relationships. Retrieved from

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waters-of-the-work-place/

Foster, J. (2017). Understanding difficult workplace relationships. Retrieved October 12, 2017,

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Llopis, G. (2013). The 4 most effective ways leaders solve problems Forbes Retrieved October

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