12.8 CHAPTER REVIEW

Printed Page 418

chapter review

key terms

workplace relationships, 387

organizational culture, 389

organizational networks, 390

virtual networks, 390

workplace cliques, 391

organizational climate, 392

image defensive climate, 392

image supportive climate, 392

cyberslacking, 394

image professional peers, 396

virtual peers, 396

mixed-status relationships, 400

image upward communication, 400

image advocacy, 400

image downward communication, 402

workplace bullying, 407

sexual harassment, 412

image You can watch brief, illustrative videos of these terms and test your understanding of the concepts by clicking on the VideoCentral features in the chapter.

key concepts

The Nature of Workplace Relationships

  • Our workplace relationships are shaped by many forces. Two of the most powerful are organizational culture and organizational networks. Most workers learn their organization’s culture—communication norms, artifacts, and values—during new employee socialization and from interacting with members of various networks.
  • Organizational networks are the principal source of workplace information for most employees. Information in networks is exchanged through face-to-face encounters, memos, phone, and e-mail. Virtual networks also exist, particularly for workers who telecommute from home.
  • When members of networks share common beliefs and personal values, they sometimes form workplace cliques. Cliques can provide useful insider information to new employees. Cliques can also be disruptive, particularly when they encourage unethical employee behavior.
  • The overall emotional tone of your organization, known as the organizational climate, can be rigid and cold in a defensive climate, open and warm in a supportive climate, or, in most cases, somewhere in between.
  • While technology in the workplace connects workers in a relational fashion, it also creates opportunities for cyberslacking. It is important to remember that anything you do on a company computer is considered company property.

Peer Relationships

  • Our closest workplace relationships are with our professional peers. Friendships between peers evolve from frequent interaction and common interests. The same is true for virtual peers.
  • We maintain peer relationships through positivity, openness, assurances, and the ability to relate to our coworkers as humans, not just colleagues.

Mixed-Status Relationships

  • The primary interpersonal dynamic in mixed-status relationships is power. The difference in power between workers and managers makes forming friendships across status lines challenging.
  • Much of upward communication is designed to gain influence. Although people use different tactics, the most effective is advocacy, designing a message that is specifically tailored to the viewpoints of your superior.
  • When engaging in downward communication, it’s important to communicate in positive, empathic, respectful, and open ways.

Challenges to Workplace Relationships

  • Workplace bullying can occur in a variety of ways, including cyberbullying. Such bullying targets physical and psychological health.
  • Even though romances in the workplace are common, they offer some positives and challenges. If you become involved in such a relationship, it is important to always maintain professional communication with your partner at work.
  • Although many people think sexual harassment is on the wane, incidences have actually increased over the past decade.

key skills

  • What are the pros and cons of workplace cliques? Find the answer on page 391.
  • What are the two most important practical tips to keep in mind about organizational networks? Go to pages 391-392 to find out.
  • How can you help build a supportive climate in your workplace? Review Table 12.1 on page 392.
  • Interested in using technology to help you better collaborate with coworkers? Try the Skills Practice on page 394.
  • How can you maintain healthy and happy peer relationships? Revisit the suggestions on pages 397-398. Then take the Self-Quiz on page 398.
  • Interested in enhancing your upward communication? Practice your advocacy skills by revisiting the steps described on pages 400-402. Then do the Skills Practice on page 402.
  • What are the five most important skills necessary for effective downward communication? Revisit pages 402-404 to find out.
  • How can you more effectively praise subordinates? Review the tips for effective compliments on page 404.
  • What can you do to make your criticism more constructive? Follow the suggestions on pages 404-405.
  • How can you successfully maintain mixed-status relationships? Check out pages 405-406 for the answer.
  • Want to enhance your understanding of workplace bullying, as well as how you can better cope with it? Complete the Skills Practice on page 409.
  • What can you do to maintain a workplace romance? Check out the recommendations on pages 409-411.
  • Think you have a firm understanding of sexual harassment? Take the Self-Quiz on page 412 to check your perceptions.
  • What would you do if you thought your boss may have been abusive to you? Complete the Making Relationship Choices exercise on pages 414-415 to find out.