A reader writes:
What are your ideas and the etiquette round getting drinks with coworkers whenever you’re in management place?
I’m a feminine, on a youthful aspect, in a management position at a small-to-medium dimension group. We lately had an organization occasion, after which 5–10 individuals went out for drinks and stayed for a few hours. It was simply nice to see some colleagues which are typically in numerous places, and most of them don’t report back to me.
Some time later, an exec talked about that he thought it was inappropriate to exit consuming with subordinates. I perceive that colleagues might not all the time really feel comfy with their bosses being current at pleased hours, however this was not the case right here. I wish to ensure I don’t undermine my fame as knowledgeable.
There are methods to do it that might be unprofessional, however the mere act of getting drinks with individuals decrease within the hierarchy than you isn’t unprofessional. The truth is, generally it’s a part of the job for managers to place in an look at work social capabilities, even casual ones, to get to know individuals in a extra relaxed setting (and allow them to get to know you) in addition to to look like a fairly heat, approachable human who enjoys their colleagues’ firm.
To a degree, in fact. It is going to be much less skilled when you’re all the time the one organizing it (which, given the facility dynamics, doesn’t go away quite a lot of room to study individuals aren’t that smitten by going, or doing it so typically), or when you’re all the time the final to go away, or when you drink to the purpose of drunkenness (and even to the purpose of letting down your inhibitions, past maybe a spherical of karaoke that you simply wouldn’t have accomplished with no glass of wine in you).
Generally, if individuals who report back to you can be there, I’m a fan of going for an hour after which excusing your self. You make an look, however then you definitely go away individuals to talk with out the boss round.
That mentioned, I’d wish to know extra in regards to the government who made the remark. Is he somebody with quite a lot of affect over your profession? If that’s the case, it’s helpful to pay attention to his considering. Is he somebody identified to be stand-offish himself, in a manner that has negatively affected how he’s perceived? If that’s the case, view his remark by way of that lens. Was there one thing about this specific occasion which may have triggered the comment, like that it obtained notably rowdy and Bob from Accounting was handed out by the copier the following morning? That will give the remark extra nuance than simply “by no means have a drink with subordinates.”
However in any other case, it’s an awfully inflexible rule that doesn’t align with what number of good managers function.
