Organisations often talk about culture but rarely consider the role that friendships play in creating a healthy, dynamic and productive work environment, says Michelle Gibbings in this article for Chief of Staff Magazine.
Some leaders believe that if a work environment is too collegiate, people will stop challenging each other and ideas won’t be debated. However, combative environments where a dominant person subjugates the opinions of others, is unfriendly and is highly-politicised can be destructive. The damage to employees’ mental health and wellbeing from working in such an environment is well-known.