What To Fear From a Very Friendly Boss
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Having a boss that’s too friendly might seem like a typical First World problem. But even if you don’t use “too friendly” as a euphemism for a boss who is prone to sexually harass people, as you shouldn’t, the level of friendliness your boss exhibits will affect the workplace and, by extension, you.
But it doesn’t always have to affect it for the better.
A boss that’s overly friendly can be bad news. It’s hard to say how much trouble they will cause for you specifically, but a friendliness that’s becoming a problem will be hard
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to miss.
Here are a couple of scenarios that might unroll at your workplace if your boss is too friendly.
A Boss Who Can’t Lead
People become bosses for various reasons. A best-case scenario is their competence got them there. Worst case scenario may have to do with nepotism or other forms of selection that don’t reward according to merit. Either way, you can end up with a person whose friendliness impedes their effort to lead people.
“You don’t have to be mean to be a good boss,” says Petra Fries of Flatfy. “But if you’re too
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agreeable and willing to please others, sooner or later you will see these traits clash with what you’re required to be as a boss.” A good boss should be able to do work on two fronts – demand a certain level of performance from the people who work under them and provide them with what they need.
If a boss can’t do either, you’ll find yourself working in a bad environment. People will either have too much slack to bring in their A game, or they’ll keep doing their absolute best to tackle meaningless assignments. Neither is pleasant, or good
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for your career, and both feed the theories that mean bosses are better.
A Boss Who Doesn’t Respect Your Personal Boundaries
A lack of respect for your personal boundaries can be a serious issue. It can be cause for disciplinary actions, termination, or even police involvement. However, a boss doesn’t need to be a harasser in order to have a lack of appreciation for your boundaries.
Some people don’t like to mix their personal and professional life. Some people value their privacy and don’t want to discuss of their personal lives in their
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workplace. If you’re one of those people and you have a very friendly boss, they might make your time at work challenging.
In this case, you should fear your boss’ reaction to your attempts to assert your boundaries. This can be a difficult thing to navigate, but you will have to give it a go. If your boss refuses to take the hint your work environment may feel unwelcoming to you.
A Boss Who Doesn’t Have Boundaries
On the other side of the spectrum is the boss who doesn’t have personal boundaries. This issue can end in some creepy,
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unprofessional, and even unlawful interactions. Even if it doesn’t, it can make it difficult for you to perform at work.
The ways to deal with a boss who likes to overshare are the same as the ways to deal with a boss who expects you to share more than you want to. Putting the emphasis on listening and adopting a professional demeanor are only some of them. You should be aware of your rights and know who to speak to if it becomes a problem.
Workplace friendliness can be the root cause of many problems. If your boss tends to be too friendly,
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their ability to lead might be reduced. Or, they might smother you with questions about your personal life, or accounts of their own lives. Friendliness is always better than hostility, that much is true. But don’t forget for a second that in a professional environment it might cause issues that will hurt your career.
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Kate Khom - 3 Apr 19
Having a boss that’s too friendly might seem like a typical First World problem. But even if you don’t use “too friendly” as a euphemism for a boss who is prone to sexually harass people, as you shouldn’t, the level of friendliness your boss exhibits will affect the workplace and, by extension, you.
But it doesn’t always have to affect it for the better.
A boss that’s overly friendly can be bad news. It’s hard to say how much trouble they will cause for you specifically, but a friendliness that’s becoming a problem will be hard to miss.
Here are a couple of scenarios that might unroll at your workplace if your boss is too friendly.
A Boss Who Can’t Lead
People become bosses for various reasons. A best-case scenario is their competence got them there. Worst case scenario may have to do with nepotism or other forms of selection that don’t reward according to merit. Either way, you can end up with a person whose friendliness impedes their effort to lead people.
“You don’t have to be mean to be a good boss,” says Petra Fries of Flatfy. “But if you’re too agreeable and willing to please others, sooner or later you will see these traits clash with what you’re required to be as a boss.” A good boss should be able to do work on two fronts – demand a certain level of performance from the people who work under them and provide them with what they need.
If a boss can’t do either, you’ll find yourself working in a bad environment. People will either have too much slack to bring in their A game, or they’ll keep doing their absolute best to tackle meaningless assignments. Neither is pleasant, or good for your career, and both feed the theories that mean bosses are better.
A Boss Who Doesn’t Respect Your Personal Boundaries
A lack of respect for your personal boundaries can be a serious issue. It can be cause for disciplinary actions, termination, or even police involvement. However, a boss doesn’t need to be a harasser in order to have a lack of appreciation for your boundaries.
Some people don’t like to mix their personal and professional life. Some people value their privacy and don’t want to discuss of their personal lives in their workplace. If you’re one of those people and you have a very friendly boss, they might make your time at work challenging.
In this case, you should fear your boss’ reaction to your attempts to assert your boundaries. This can be a difficult thing to navigate, but you will have to give it a go. If your boss refuses to take the hint your work environment may feel unwelcoming to you.
A Boss Who Doesn’t Have Boundaries
On the other side of the spectrum is the boss who doesn’t have personal boundaries. This issue can end in some creepy, unprofessional, and even unlawful interactions. Even if it doesn’t, it can make it difficult for you to perform at work.
The ways to deal with a boss who likes to overshare are the same as the ways to deal with a boss who expects you to share more than you want to. Putting the emphasis on listening and adopting a professional demeanor are only some of them. You should be aware of your rights and know who to speak to if it becomes a problem.
Workplace friendliness can be the root cause of many problems. If your boss tends to be too friendly, their ability to lead might be reduced. Or, they might smother you with questions about your personal life, or accounts of their own lives. Friendliness is always better than hostility, that much is true. But don’t forget for a second that in a professional environment it might cause issues that will hurt your career.
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Kate is a passionate writer who likes sharing her thoughts and experience with the readers. Currently, she works as a real estate agent at Flatfy.ro. She likes everything related to traveling and new countries.
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