Informal Monitoring and Accountability in Teams
Teams rely heavily on unwritten rules or team norms that members follow to ensure effective collaboration and productivity. These norms are usually set based on personal communication preferences, goals, values, and experience. They often include how individuals communicate with each other, their level of trustworthiness, respect, cooperation, and conflict resolution skills. Informal monitoring is essential for ensuring team members abide by these norms. It involves observing whether others follow them and providing feedback when they don't. This process relies on informal accountability systems, which ensure those who violate team norms are held responsible for their actions and changes their behavior. Informal enforcement mechanisms can also be used to prevent future infractions.
Sexual relationships may affect all three processes.
Sexual Relationships and Team Norms
Team norms dictate how teammates interact with each other, including the type of language and behavior acceptable between them.
Some teams may forbid profanity, gossip, or teasing because it distracts from work tasks. Others may discourage socializing outside of meetings or emails during working hours. When a team member enters into a sexual relationship with another member, this can change how they treat each other within these boundaries. In fact, studies show that couples tend to have a higher tolerance for breaking team norms than non-coupled team members.
This difference arises due to emotional attachment created through intimacy. Couples feel more connected to each other, leading to increased closeness and comfort in communicating without regard for formal rules. As a result, they may make jokes about sensitive topics or share personal information that could otherwise be offensive. Moreover, couples may spend less time discussing professional matters as they focus more on personal issues.
Informal Monitoring and Accountability in Teams
Informal monitoring is essential in keeping team members accountable by ensuring they follow team norms. It involves observing individual behavior and providing feedback when someone breaks them. Sexual partners' close bond may disrupt this process because they are unlikely to monitor one another as closely. They trust each other and assume their partner will not break the rules intentionally. This lack of surveillance makes it harder for others to hold them responsible for violations. Informal enforcement mechanisms also become less effective when they cannot agree on punishment.
Imagine two coworkers start dating at the office. One day, they arrive late for an important meeting while chatting instead of preparing materials. Their colleagues notice but don't say anything because they think it's none of their business. Later, the couple leaves early before completing their tasks, again with no consequences.
Other teammates lose respect for these individuals and question why they weren't held accountable for their actions. The result is resentment and reduced collaboration within the group.
Sexual Relationships and Enforcement Mechanisms
Enforcement mechanisms prevent future infractions by holding team members responsible for breaking rules. These can include reprimands, penalties, or exclusion from activities.
Sexual relationships may undermine such systems due to emotional attachment and bias towards one another.
A manager may excuse a coworker who has a relationship with their subordinate's tardiness or poor work quality since they believe they have a personal connection. Similarly, a peer may be lenient with a friend who ignores deadlines if they think they need help balancing personal life and work.
This bias leads to inconsistent treatment between similar situations and undermines fairness in decision-making. It creates mistrust among non-coupled teammates who feel singled out for punishments while others are let off the hook. As a result, team norms become less effective, leading to decreased productivity and lower performance.
In what ways do sexual relationships influence informal monitoring, accountability, and enforcement of team norms?
The way that sexual relationships impact informal monitoring, accountability, and enforcement of team norms depends on several factors including the type of relationship, its impact on the workplace environment, and individual attitudes toward interpersonal interactions at work.