Colleagues know how to push our buttons just like family does

Colleagues know how to push our buttons just like family doesColleagues know how to push our buttons just like family doesWe all know about work spouses, the extra close co-workers who can finish our sentences, empathize when were having a bad day, and share the best and worst part of our arbeitszimmer experience, but sometimes the work dynamic can start to mimic other elements of a family dynamic - and not always in a good way. Carolyn Thompson, Managing Principal of the Merito Group, puts it this way The bossy sibling will always be the bossy one. The martyr who relishes publicly sacrificing themselves on behalf of others will always do that and expect to be recognized for doing it. The people we grew up as are still with us in the workplace.If youve ever rolled your eyes at the infuriatingly oblivious attitude of the office brat, or wondered how youve suddenly been designated the office mom, it might be time to take a closer look at the potentially unwelcome family dynamic of you r professional life. A few years back, Anna Urnova, a student in an executive coaching and consulting program, wrote her masters thesis based on the premise that our family dynamics may affect our future group dynamics, specifically in the workplace. While Arnovas control group was hardly scientific she asked 10 executives to tell her about their most memorable work team experiences and childhood family story - she looked for parallels and themes in the data which showed the ways family system dynamics influenced the way unterstellung individuals then related to others in work teams.Family archetypes in the officeBut it isnt just theory. Even just by looking around, its easy to see how colleagues take on - or are assigned - family roles like the patriarch, the mother, the sibling rivals, and the black sheep.In 2014, Sonya Rhodes, PhD, and Susan Schneider, authors of The Alpha Woman Meets Her Match, wrote about the ways work relationships sometimes mimic family relationships A c olleague may bring out old feelings you had about your siblings. If youre an older child who is dutiful and has a notable opposition to colleagues who slack off like your younger siblings this is why.Many women in positions of authority, no matter their age or stage, can somehow almost be forced into the category of work mother - whether they want to fill that role or not. Its strange that grown adults with free will will see any woman in authority as a mother, but its also a testament to the power of those patterns formed in childhood.In their article Rhodes and Schneider explained it as the psychological theory of transference where, without realizing it, the female boss relates to her subordinates as the older sister, or mother. The reverse is very much true as well employees will project their feelings toward their mothers - whether they were nurturing or competitive - onto the most senior female in the office.The father figure in the officeSimilarly, men in the office are se en as fathers - and anyone with daddy issues, in the words of Forbes writer Jenna Goudreau - is likely to try to work them out on colleagues. As Goudreau writesMore often, however, the behavior is subtle and insidious. Weliky says her clients first notice their own negative emotional reactions. Many report feeling patronized by a managers tone of voice (like a pat on the head), noticeably cower in the bosss presence or consistently worry they will get in trouble.And this will ring familiar to many who have been baffled by office power dynamicsWeliky believes women are especially vulnerable to the father-daughter dynamic at work because of the way they were socialized and (still-present) gender stereotyping. More likely to be pleasers who seek approval from an authority figure, they may apologize too much, avoid eye contact, allow condescension or not verbally assert themselves. Two men, she says, are more likely to become buddies or lock horns in a power struggle.Its one thing if thats your choice, but what do you do when a family type role has been forced on you in the workplace - and youd like to break free of that unwelcome dynamic?One of Goudreaus sources says knowledge is powerHeres the way out Once you observe the patterns, they begin to loosen. Understand where they started. Then transform them.But theres a lot more to it.Getting out of your office role draw boundariesAmy Baxter M.D. a former emergency pediatrician and pain researcher, segued into the entrepreneurial life when she created Buzzy, a palm size pain blocker meant to numb the pain of a needle, especially for children. Dr. Baxter uses the work style she developed while working in the E.R. in her business life as well Keeping a clear work friendship barrier is really important is one of the ways she keeps things clear and professional at work. She expands by saying, you want to have a culture where you feel comfortable hanging out with each other outside the office, but not a web so you fee l responsible for catching each others out of the office drama. Dr. Baxter says as a woman in business, shes learned one particular lesson thats always stayed with her Never keep a jar of candy on your desk. Youre not there to feed them. Youre not there to give them treats when theyre feeling bad. Dr. Baxter explains that its a natural female thing to nurture, but theres a pleasure in keeping things professional and productive. (Part of that pleasure is not having to field emotional crises all the time).Dr. Baxter admits I think that because my leadership style in the company is similar in a trauma bay, I dont exude the warm, fuzzy, lets chat about it vibe. She explains that the only person she ever had to fire was someone who among other things, sought relationship advice which was out of the scope of a boss subject. When working with family, watch the dynamicsSometimes the family dynamic works though. Stephanie McTigue, the owner of CoFi Leathers, creates high fashion handbags and boots and keeps things all in the family. McTigue consults with her husband, in the guise of a financial advisor, her father (and former partner) as a leather consultant, her mother as a sales professional and her sister as a copywriter. McTigue uses her family rules as business rules. One struggle for McTigue was the idea of keeping emotions out of the boardroom When working with family members, everyone knows each others hot buttons, she said. We were all trying to have an equal say in the direction of the business and how to make it grow.For that reason, McTigue found it crucial for both family members and employees to define their individual roles. As to the notion of becoming the work mom, mother of two McTigue doesnt necessarily see it as a bad thing. I aim to help my kids identify their strengths in life. I support them in being independent, talking openly to me about issues, approaching me with their wants/desires in a constructive way, and implementing their strengths to t ackle what they are good at. I hope that I foster these same characteristics in my employees. She also provides positive feedback on a job well done and encourages her team to have a work/life balance.Employees are different, but theyre not children - even if some behave that wayThompson explains that even among adults in an office environment, some employees actually need more mothering and hand-holding, and some need less, but of course it depends on how hard theyre leaning on you to provide something that might not interest you.For women in the office, Forbes points out that if someone flips out over small, voreingestellt corrections or other day-to-day work that others take in stride, its worth examining whether parental patterns and the fear of earning love is shaping the employees behavior First, notice if your reactions are overblown. If you get very upset, panicky or teary over a bosss offhand comment, there may be real issues with your own father that need to be worked thr ough outside of the office. Weliky says that women who experienced absent or distant fathers may continue to seek approval from men or have lower levels of confidence later in life.She also says sibling rivalries and work ethics are visible in the office Some (employees) expect an award for coming to work every day on time and others are striving to win the sales contest. Every employee and every manager is different. And sometimes that means that even the reluctant office mom might need some cheering one Managers and executives need recognition, too. Just because they are the leaders doesnt mean they dont need a thank you or an attaboy once in a while.The key feature for managers and employees alike, however, is that its about finding your own balance and comfort zone. Remember that the office isnt family if only because everyone is there not out of love, but because they are getting paid to be there.Its especially important to make sure that people dont use managers as an emotiona l garbage can to unload all their frustrations constantly. That can wear down managers energy and time, and, after all, that kind of venting is what real family and friends are for. While its okay to mentor your employees, Dr. Baxter admits thats a different thing than being a constant listening ear to make someone feel better - aint got no time for that.