"Familiarity breeds contempt"

You've probably heard the proverb "familiarity breeds contempt",  especially when in the presence of  people from an older generation.   The dictionary describes this in more detail as "extensive knowledge of or close association with someone or something leads to a loss of respect for them or it."

I remember the first time I learned about this phrase.  I was a young 19 year old recruit in the South African Air Force and was just starting with my officer's course shortly after basic military training.  The major conducting the specific lesson taught us that officers should no become "familiar" with the soldiers they were in charge off.   Doing so could lead to all sorts of problems including life-threatening situations where a soldier might disobey a direct command because he / she were too familiar with the officer in charge.

We've all seen war movies where this situation plays out, and I believe this holds true for any leadership position where a difficult decision can lead to disastrous consequences if familiarity has gone too far, ultimately leading to a break in trust.  We've all had the boss / team leader who we became friends with and then one day were called in, only to be told that we did something wrong....we took it personally and the landslide of broken trust started.

This is a complex topic to navigate as businesses today become increasingly more social in their leadership and management styles because of an evolved younger and more knowledgeable generation.

I saw this play out in an organisation where the culture of the day was to work really hard during the day on projects but then socialise around a round of drinks on regular occasions with the management team.  When things started going wrong it was hard to have the tough conversations which resulted in the "bottom line" taking a massive hit as issues weren't being discussed in open robust conversations.  The end of it was a complete dismantling of the senior management team and people leaving the organisation.

Now don't get me wrong, I think it's good to socialise, as it promotes a healthy working culture, but be sure that there is a culture of respect and open communication.  More importantly, as a leader, be watchful of the pitfall of familiarity and set clear boundaries.  Not just for those who report to you, but also for yourself.

In light of this I believe three are crucial to ensure that businesses grow and continue to be successful in this new age and economy:

1. Leaders are identified and trained to develop their emotional intelligence 
2. Sufficient investment is made in educating personnel w.r.t. the social aspects of their work, promoting a healthy work culture
3. Effective communication frameworks are built into the the business processes of organisations, facilitating effective and productive conversations