Pros and cons to being friends with your boss - TheJobNetwork

Pros and cons to being friends with your babo - TheJobNetworkIn a perfect world, since you spend such a large chunk of your life at work, youd be friends with all of your colleagues. But when it comes to your manager, lines can be difficult to define. No matter how well you get along and how chill your geschftszimmer is, becoming besties with your boss isnt always in the cards. Thats not necessarily a bad thing thoughthere are pros and cons to turning that professional relationship into a friendly, personal one. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) ProCongratulations You just made a new friendWell, this ones pretty obvious. Its the pro of making friends with, well, anyone. Making friends is great Its always nice to have someone new to chat with and lean on for support in times of stress. If you and a coworker click well and have a great rapport and lots in common, who cares if that someone happens to be your boss?ConConstructive criticism bec omes complicatedOne downside to having a buddy as a boss is that he or she might be less inclined to give you negative feedback when youre not working up to your full potential. And sometimes you really need that criticism. Offering constructive criticism is often a key aspect of a bosss job, but if she or he feels uncomfortable giving any for fear that it might damage a friendship, youll keep making the same mistakes over and over again and fail to grow professionally.Pro Knowing your boss as a friend means knowing what your boss needsBefriending your boss is not just beneficial on a personal level. Believe it or not, it can actually make you better at your job. If you know your boss as a friend, you have a better understanding of your bosss personality and needs. Knowing a boss inside and out makes any employee a better one.Con Worlds colliding can be toughLeaving work behind when you walk out the office door is healthy. That will be a lot harder to do when youre meeting up with y our boss during your free time. Conversations may veer back toward work issues. Over cocktails, your boss might even start picking your brain about other employees who arent pulling their weight, and thats when issues of betrayal can arise and things can get really sticky from 9 to 5. Also, your boss may also learn things about your personal life that could come back and bite you at work.Pro Youre less likely to get in troubleBeing friends with the boss isnt just a pro in times of plenty. It can also be a real benefit when things go awry. If you mess up at workand who doesnt from time to timeyou might be less likely to get chewed out if the chewer has plans to go to the movies with you this weekend.Con Here come the accusations of favoritismYour relationship with your boss can get a bit weird if the two of you become friends, but just think of what it will do with your relationship with the other employees First of all, theyll probably get a little wary whenever you get a promotion or a raise, wondering if you got that benefit on merit or because the boss likes hanging out with you. Your co-workers might start making accusations of favoritism, which often leads toCon You May alienate your peersbeing on the outs with your office peers. Becoming really tight with the one in charge can do a lot of damage to your relationship with your co-workers. If they think youre getting preferential treatment, they wont just accuse you of receiving favoritismthey wont want anything to do with you, or in worst case scenarios, they may actively work against you.The bottom line? Tread carefully when it comes to bonding with your boss on a personal level. There may be some superficial pros that come with it, but the cons can be pretty serious.