Putting Relationships In Their Place

Written by ls2group

In most areas of our lives, the rules of relationships are pretty clear. Whether it is a parent, a best friend, or significant other, we seem to inherently understand the dos and don’ts of navigating our interpersonal interactions.

In the workplace, however, things can get a bit tricky. No matter what the office culture may be, there is an unavoidable power hierarchy in place. Just about everyone reports to someone else, creating a complex system of superiors and subordinates. In most companies, however, team leaders and team members join forces on a daily basis. While collaborative environments such as these typically produce great work, it can make it difficult to find a comfortable middle ground in the subordinate-supervisor relationship. If the relationship is too casual and friendly, problems are bound to arise when supervisors need to wield authority. In these cases, those on the receiving end will likely feel confused at best, and betrayed at worst. On the other end of the spectrum, supervisors who adopt a Machiavellian approach to office relationships tend to sacrifice employee initiative and engagement in the pursuit of compliance.

Certainly, the goal of any good manager is to find that middle ground where subordinates feel valued, appreciated, and part of the team. When this is achieved, your team stays motivated, focused, and efficient.

We have a thriving intern program at LS2group. Due to the variety of our client services, we have the ability to provide college students unique opportunities to gain experience in their chosen fields. On the same note, because some of our interns eventually become permanent team members, we have a great appreciation for the talents these young professionals bring to the table. Thus, finding the perfect balance in the superior-subordinate relationship is critical.

Here are three guidelines we use to foster positive relationships with our interns.

1. Check in often, but encourage autonomy

For all intents and purposes, interns are fish out of the water. Thus, it is important to train them properly and take the time to chat on a daily basis. Regular, informal check-ins will give interns easy opportunities to ask questions and bring up concerns. At the same time, these young men and women are likely some of the best in their college classes. They are used to excelling in their coursework and accomplishing goals. Therefore, it is important to give them a chance to find their groove and discover a pathway to success in this new environment.

2. Promote initiative

At LS2group, our guiding principle is to exceed client expectations. This means we are always on the lookout for new ideas. We value the insights and fresh perspectives of our interns. As such, we work hard to gain the trust of these new members to our teams. We want them to feel comfortable sharing their knowledge with even the most seasoned veterans. Likewise, we do not just pay lip service to the notion of gaining alternative insights. We cultivate good ideas and give credit where it’s due.

3. Guide, not govern

While it may be cliché, we embrace the value of leading by example.  Our interns look to us as models for professional dress, appropriate water cooler banter, work ethic, and everything in between. We model professional behavior so our interns and new team members understand office norms and the best ways to fit into their new teams.

The rules for personal relationships cannot always be applied to superior-subordinate interactions. Taking the time to understand the dynamics of office relationships will go a long way toward cultivating a culture of mutual respect between all levels of the power hierarchy. For more information on LS2group and our intern program, please contact [email protected].