Page 124 - CROSS CULTURE

Employees may feel silly engaging in role-playing, but this is a

critical exercise on how to learn new communication skills.

As you give your employees an increasing number of

skills, which enable them to deal with problems in the
workday or the gaps in their own skill set, you increase the

chances for the team to have a greater number of positive

interactions. Team-building exercises can transform a negative

dynamic between two employees who did not understand
each other before the exercises, into a dynamic in which these

two employees walk away from the exercise with a new

appreciation of the other's point of view. These types of

training programs must reinforce policies and procedures that

enhance positive interactions. This is an ongoing process for
every employee and business leader.

6. Potential Risks of Fraternization

When employees are enjoying working together,

friendships and even romantic relationships likely develop.

While an employer wants employees to be friendly, bringing
too much out-of-office personal stuff into the office can lead to

negative interactions in the office. This, of course, harms team

morale and productivity.

The first risk to consider with fraternization is the

distraction it creates. Employees are likely to meet and talk
during work hours and might not address work tasks. This

action could create animosity among coworkers, who must

hold down the fort, while their colleagues are nowhere to be

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