When it comes to building intimate relationships with close friends, coworkers, family members, or romantic partners, there are always some boundaries that must be respected to keep things exclusive and private between those involved.
These same boundaries can also create social barriers that make it difficult for people outside of the relationship to feel included in group activities or even welcome in general. This can lead to feelings of exclusion and isolation, ultimately damaging team inclusivity and psychological safety.
One way this happens is when couples or families engage in physical displays of affection like holding hands, hugging, or kissing in public spaces where others may witness them without their consent. These actions can make others uncomfortable and make them feel unwelcome or out of place, leading to negative reactions such as avoidance or even anger towards the couple/family.
Inside jokes and shared references can create an air of exclusivity that makes newcomers feel left out, making it harder to integrate into the group socially.
Another example is how couples often have "couple time" or "date nights" that exclude other individuals from joining them. This sends a message that they are not welcomed into the relationship dynamic and can make others feel isolated from the group dynamic altogether. The same thing goes for secret languages or codewords used by couples - these words or phrases are often meant to be private between two people and therefore exclude anyone else who doesn't understand what they mean.
Intimacy and closeness within teams can cause employees to form cliques and become more comfortable working with certain individuals than others. This can result in excluding individuals from decision-making processes, meetings, and other important conversations that are critical to success. It also creates an atmosphere of fear among those excluded, leading to lower productivity and morale.
When intimate bonds create social barriers, they weaken team inclusivity and damage psychological safety by making some individuals feel like outsiders. Team members need to feel valued and included if they are going to feel safe enough to take risks, offer ideas, ask questions, and work together effectively. Breaking down these boundaries by respecting personal space and recognizing the impact of exclusive behaviors on others is essential to building a healthy and successful team environment.
How do intimate bonds create social barriers that exclude others from participation, reducing team inclusivity and weakening psychological safety?
Intimate bonds can create social barriers by creating exclusive relationships among individuals within teams, which reduces participation and increases feelings of exclusion, diminishing trust and belongingness among team members. When some people feel excluded or left out, they may withdraw from team interactions, affecting their motivation and performance levels. This can lead to reduced psychological safety in the workplace, where teammates feel less comfortable speaking up about ideas and sharing concerns for fear of being judged or rejected by the group.