5 Simple Tips on How to Avoid Over Familiarity in Your Professional Relationships
Creating professional relationships is not an easy task, especially when it involves balancing the line between being friendly and maintaining a level of decorum. Over familiarity in professional relationships can not only blur the lines and cause confusion but also create an unprofessional image, ultimately impacting your reputation at work. Here are five simple tips on how to avoid over familiarity in your professional relationships.
1. Maintain a Professional Tone
One of the easiest ways to avoid over familiarity in your professional relationships is by maintaining a professional tone. Always use a professional language, including the appropriate titles, such as Mr. or Ms. when addressing someone, rather than a nickname. Furthermore, try to avoid using informal language, such as slang, in your conversations, emails, or any other communication.
2. Keep Personal Matters Private
It is normal for people to share personal matters with people they spend time with, even if they are professionals. But it’s important to keep in mind that what you share can affect how your colleagues and superiors view you. Avoid sharing too much personal information or gossiping with coworkers. It’s better to keep your personal life separate from your professional life.
3. Avoid Crossing Physical Boundaries
Physical boundaries are essential in professional relationships, but it can be challenging to know where to draw the line. Simple things, such as handshakes, high fives, and patting, can be acceptable in some situations, but hugging or any other physical touch should generally be kept to a minimum.
4. Stay Professional in Your Social Media
Social media platforms blur the lines between personal and professional lives, making it easy to overstep boundaries unintentionally. Make sure your social media presence aligns with your professional image. Avoid sharing personal pictures and posts that are not work-related. Consider setting privacy settings on your accounts to limit your coworkers’ access to personal information.
5. Set Boundaries in Your Relationships
While creating professional relationships is essential, it is important to know when to draw the line. Create clear boundaries in your professional relationships and stick to them, no matter how tempted you are to blur them. For instance, avoid socializing outside of work with your colleagues or subordinates as it can create over familiarity that may not be suitable for a professional relationship.
Conclusion
Avoiding over familiarity in professional relationships requires some effort, but it’s worth it to keep your professional image intact. Always maintain a professional tone, keep personal matters confidential, avoid crossing physical boundaries, stay professional on social media, and create clear boundaries. By doing so, you can develop a professional relationship that is beneficial to both parties.
