Managing Work Cliques
Positive workplace connections can make your day more enjoyable and help you work more effectively. However, sometimes these connections can become too exclusive and may have a negative impact on office morale. Addressing workplace cliques in a professional and effective manner is crucial in order to prevent any harmful effects that they may have.
What exactly are work cliques? A work clique is a group of coworkers who spend a significant amount of time together and may even socialize outside of work. These close-knit friendships often exclude outsiders and can create an “us vs. them” dynamic within the workplace.
There are several factors that can cause workplace cliques to form. These include shared interests, sentiments, or other similarities among employees. Cliques can form based on various criteria such as:
- Similar personality types - Longest tenure at the firm - Working in the same department - Being in similar life phases - Having similar hobbies - Religious or political affinity
It is important to note that sharing a common experience can also lead to the formation of cliques. For example, when employees are unsure about their future at the organization, being among others who understand and support them can be comforting. However, this can also create a barrier between cliques and other employees, leading to feelings of exclusion and favoritism.
There are several signs that indicate the presence of work cliques in a workplace. These may include certain workers actively excluding others from joining their group, office gossip about colleagues, a discouragement of dissenting opinions, spreading of rumors among employees, increased competitiveness, and even instances of bullying.
The effects of work cliques on morale and productivity can be significant. In a cliquey workplace, morale can suffer as employees who feel isolated or alienated may lose motivation. Productivity may also be impacted as distractions caused by being excluded from cliques can lead to lower efficiency.
Members of cliques may also have limited viewpoints as they tend to spend most of their time with the same individuals, missing out on new perspectives, ideas, and potential collaborations. This can hinder innovation and overall corporate efficiency as the best teams are those that are diverse, adaptable, and open to different personalities.
To prevent workplace cliques from having a negative impact on your organization, there are several strategies that can be implemented:
1. Build teams that encourage diversity and collaboration. Plan team-building activities, lunches, or community service projects that involve staff from different departments and work levels.
2. Lead by example. Avoid forming work cliques yourself and spend time with a variety of coworkers. Encourage interactions with different groups and seek feedback from staff on various projects.
3. Address the issue directly by meeting with clique members to discuss how their behavior may be affecting others. Encourage open dialogue and discuss the importance of inclusivity and teamwork in the workplace.
4. Develop relationships with individual members of cliques to help broaden their social circles and introduce them to other coworkers who share their interests.
5. Maintain social connections outside of work to ensure that you feel valued and included, even if there are workplace cliques present.
6. Emphasize your company’s values of collaboration and togetherness by incorporating them into daily practices and recognizing employees who embody these values.
7. Foster socialization by organizing regular employee social events and inviting those who may feel excluded to participate.
8. Create a mentoring program to pair new hires with experienced employees from different departments to promote cross-group interactions and collaboration.
9. Enforce corporate policies regarding workplace behavior, including any actions that may be discriminatory, exclusionary, or harmful to morale.
By taking proactive measures to address work cliques and promote inclusivity in the workplace, you can help create a more positive and productive work environment for all employees. Remember that diversity, collaboration, and open communication are key components to building a strong and cohesive team.