Sexualized behavior is a common phenomenon that occurs when individuals act in ways to attract members of the opposite sex for social, emotional, or physical gratification. In the workplace, such behaviors may lead to informal leaderships and distribution of influences among colleagues. This article explores how sexualized behavior affects the emergence and maintenance of informal leaderships and their effects on employee performance.
Informal Leadership Emergence
Sexualized behavior can impact the emergence of informal leaders in different ways. First, it creates an atmosphere of attraction and affection within groups, making some individuals more desirable than others.
If a male worker flirts with his female coworkers, he becomes more appealing than other men in the group, increasing his influence and likelihood of being recognized as a leader. Similarly, if a female worker flaunts her body, she becomes a sexual object, which makes other women feel inferior and look up to her for guidance.
Informal leadership emerges naturally due to personal charisma, trustworthiness, and respect from peers. Sexualized behavior can manipulate these characteristics and make people focus on one aspect while ignoring others. As a result, individuals who exhibit sexualized behaviors gain popularity and power, but they do not necessarily have the necessary skills to lead effectively.
Male Dominance
Men are typically associated with macho behavior, making them dominant leaders in the workplace.
They also tend to use sexualized behavior to boost their status. When a man is charming and seductive, he gains attention and authority without putting much effort into actual leadership skills. This can be seen in the workplace where a handsome male worker is likely to get promoted because he is perceived as attractive rather than competent. On the contrary, when women exhibit similar behavior, it may label them as sexually aggressive or unprofessional.
Influence Distribution
Sexualized behavior impacts how informal leaders distribute their influence among employees. They tend to favor those who share similar views, thereby creating cliques within the organization.
If a female worker shows off her curves, she will attract the attention of males who find her sexy and try to please her by sharing secrets and confidential information.
When an individual has access to valuable information, he/she becomes powerful and influential over their peers. Thus, sexualized behavior may create secret societies where members exchange privileged data and decisions. The other workers feel inferior and isolated, reducing productivity and performance.
When a leader uses sexualized behavior to manipulate people, it creates mistrust and fear among employees. They become wary of their actions and hesitate to cooperate fully due to possible repercussions. As a result, morale reduces, and staff turnover increases, leading to poor organizational outcomes.
How can sexualized behavior impact informal leadership emergence and distribution of influence?
Sexualized behavior is likely to negatively impact informal leadership emergence and distribution of influence due to its tendency to violate social norms and lead to negative perceptions of leaders by followers. This can result in decreased trust, respect, and loyalty among members of a group and ultimately impede effective leadership.