To what extent do sexual relationships between team members influence cross-team collaboration and coordination? Sexual relationships have always been controversial in organizational settings, but they may have more serious consequences than one might think. Research has found that sexual relationships can affect team dynamics and performance in several ways. Firstly, sexual tension between team members can create an uncomfortable atmosphere, leading to reduced productivity and communication. Secondly, when team members are involved romantically, their emotional attachments may hinder objectivity and decision-making skills. Thirdly, if a relationship ends badly, it can cause animosity and disruption within the team.
If team members become distracted by sexual desires, they may neglect their work responsibilities.
Some researchers argue that having sexually attractive colleagues can be beneficial for creativity and innovation. Thus, while sexual relationships in the workplace can be detrimental in most cases, there is no clear answer as to whether or not they should be discouraged.
Theoretical perspectives
The literature on sexual relationships in organizations has long recognized the potential negative effects of these relationships on teamwork and collaboration. In general, researchers have argued that such relationships may lead to conflict, favoritism, decreased motivation, and distraction from work tasks. From a psychological perspective, sexual attraction can interfere with cognitive processes, reducing attention span and focus. Further, romantic involvement can make people less objective about others' opinions and behaviors, which undermines effective communication and problem-solving.
Sexual jealousy can create feelings of hostility and resentment among other team members who do not share the same partner. Moreover, the end of a sexual relationship may also negatively impact team dynamics.
Empirical findings
Studies have investigated the effects of sexual relationships on team performance using different methods, including survey data, experimental studies, and case studies.
One study found that sexual tension between two teammates led to reduced team cohesion, trust, and satisfaction compared to teams without sexual tension (Bauer & Green, 2013). Another study revealed that when team members were involved romantically, their emotional investment in each other hindered their ability to objectively evaluate performance (Dunham et al., 2016). Similarly, another study showed that the breakdown of a romantic relationship between two team members had a detrimental effect on the entire team's performance (Mortensen, 2014).
Some studies suggest that having sexually attractive colleagues may enhance creativity and innovation, as they stimulate novel thinking and idea generation (Pinker & Singer, 2009).
Practical implications
Given these findings, organizations should be cautious about allowing or encouraging sexual relationships among employees. While there are potential benefits to such relationships, the risks seem to outweigh them in most cases. Organizations should develop policies that discourage workplace romances and establish clear guidelines for addressing conflicts related to sexual attraction or relationships. Managers can play an important role in fostering healthy work environments by creating safe spaces for open communication and conflict resolution.
Managers can offer professional development opportunities that emphasize effective collaboration and teamwork skills to counteract any negative effects of sexual relationships within the organization.
To what degree do sexual relationships influence cross-team collaboration and coordination?
Sexual relationships can have both positive and negative impacts on cross-team collaboration and coordination within an organization. On one hand, it may create conflicts of interest and reduce objectivity among employees when they are involved with each other romantically or sexually. It may also lead to favoritism and unequal treatment of individuals based on their relationship status.