The term "familiar relationship" implies the absence of any subordination, distance between people. That is, their relationship is free from deference, formality, more reminiscent of friendly or even brotherly (hence the name). At first glance, this is good. One involuntarily recalls the old slogan of the Soviet era: "Man is a friend, comrade and brother to man!" However, the familiar relationship has many negative sides.
What are the disadvantages of familiarity
When it comes to the relationship of close relatives, a lot is natural and forgivable: excessive frankness, intrusion into "personal space", even familiarity. Although, of course, native people should behave with each other delicately, avoiding tactlessness, swagger. Family and friends are usually approached with less strict standards than strangers. At the same time, the very fact of close relationship gives grounds to claim a special attitude, to wait for help and support.
But when it comes to strangers, such behavior will almost certainly lead to quarrels, resentments, conflicts. When a person who is neither a close relative nor a close friend behaves too freely, allows himself to invade someone else's personal space, constantly requires attention or help, this causes instinctive discontent and even indignation.
Why Familiarity Harms Work
In some organizations, institutions the principle of "As little formality as possible" is applied. Their leaders believe that the work collective should be like one big and friendly family, and then all employees will diligently perform their duties, there will be no problems with discipline, intrigue, envy, etc. Therefore, they not only themselves treat employees in a familiar manner, but also in every possible way encourage such behavior of their subordinates. However, in most cases, the result is exactly the opposite of what they expect.
No organization can function successfully without observing at least elementary rules of subordination and labor discipline. Even the most democratic and condescending leader sometimes has to not only encourage, but also punish employees. In addition, his orders and instructions must be binding, but how can this be achieved if he is, in the eyes of his subordinates, only “one of many”? Of course, it does not at all follow from this that the boss must necessarily be tough, authoritarian, but he must maintain some distance between himself and his subordinates.
In addition, familiarity between employees often leads to wasted work time, when endless conversations about personal topics are carried out instead of fulfilling official duties. People can rally against any employee, and this is also wrong.