Having a bad relationship with the boss can create all kinds of angst. But, it turns out, a close and cosy connection can actually be just as stressful — sometimes more so.
和老板的关系不好会制造出各种焦虑。但是事实证明,一段亲密而舒适的关系也一样压力重重--有时甚至更糟。
Gabby Sullivan, a design professional in northern California, in the US, knows first-hand how stressful it can be. Sullivan and her boss were close friends, work partners and even shared the same position, until he got promoted.
加贝·沙利文是美国加利福尼亚州北部的一名专业设计人员,她最知道这样的压力有多大。沙利文和她的老板是亲密的朋友和工作伙伴,在老板晋升之前,他们还享有同样的职位。
Sullivan felt he now seemed to hold her to a higher standard than he did everyone else and accused her of not following his chain of command. Then came grumblings from colleagues that Sullivan was receiving preferential treatment. It was a no-win situation.
沙利文觉得,如今的老板对自己的标准比其它任何人都要高,并且指责她不遵守自己的一系列命令。随后,同事间怨声四起,说沙利文正在受到特殊待遇。这是个输透了的局面。
Meanwhile, outside of work, their friendship also changed, and the two rarely saw each other anymore.
与此同时,工作之余,他们的友情也发生了变化,他们很少再见面了。
When they did, Sullivan found herself giving short, succinct answers and not wanting to engage in casual conversation.
当他们见面时,沙利文觉得自己的回答短小简洁,不想进行正常谈话。
The situation became so stressful that Sullivan ended up taking a two-month leave of absence just to "detach" and take a break from it all.
这个局面让人倍感压力,沙利文甚至想要离开工作两个月,把自己"剥离"出来,休息一下。
"It was really uncomfortable for a really long time," she says.
她说:"很长一段时间以来,这真的让人很不舒服。"
"During times of change, in physically challenging situations and in moral dilemmas, having a particularly strong relationship with one's supervisor can add to the pressure employees feel," says Jeremy, associate professor of management at San Diego State University, in an email.
圣地亚哥州立大学管理学副教授杰里米在一封邮件中说道:"在关系的改变期,人们深陷心理挑战和道德困境中,员工和自己的主管拥有特别深厚的关系会增加雇员的压力。"
Of course, there is nothing wrong with strong relationships with your boss, at least in the short run, says Berlin-based Konstantin, director of European School of Management and Technology Centre for Leadership Development Research.
欧洲管理和技术领导发展研究中心主任康斯坦丁表示,当然,和你的老板关系铁没有什么错,至少短期看来是这样。
But, "in the long run, such a situation can lead to fatigue, cynicism, or disappointment on the part of the employee," he says by email.
但是,他在邮件中说到:"从长远来看,这种情况可能导致员工疲劳、愤世嫉俗或失望。"