Inter-personal Relationships
In any organisation, people have to come together to accomplish organisational goals. Inter-personal relationships are a result of inter-personal communication. Groups are a result of inter-personal relationships. So, intergroup relationships are a result of inter-group communication. Initially, the inter-relationships are formal, but, over a period of time, they become less formal and work with more familiarity with each other. This gives rise to work groups and work teams and these interactions are called ‘Group Dynamics.
Basis of Inter-personal Relationships
- Personal qualities: Like physical attraction, personal appearance, honesty, sincerity, loyalty, reliability v/s dishonesty, rudeness, greed, hostility, etc
- Similarity: In beliefs, perception, values, interests, cognitive dissonance, etc.
- Familiarity: Of closeness, frequency of interaction, repetitive exposure, etc.
- Proximity: As in physical togetherness, reward-cost relationship, etc.
- Emotional identity: Which is positive feelings v/s negative feelings > relationship > behaviour > evaluation > judgments.
Approaches to inter-personal relationships
- A Needs Approach - This approach is based on Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. An individual may be attracted to another, if the needs are satisfied e.g. security, social and psychological. Sometimes, some needs are already satisfied and work as only maintenance factors; while some other needs are not and work as the really motivating factors (Frederick Herzberg's 2-factor theory of needs). There is also a Complementary Needs theory, which states that needs are mutually complementary e.g. a dominant person gets along well with a submissive person wherein both the individuals feel that the relationship is mutually rewarding.
- An Exchange Approach - This approach is based on the observation that there is a Rewards v/s Costs relationship. This means that individuals consider the cost involved v/s the rewards in return for maintaining a relationship. In other words, there is an exchange relationship. The rewards can be in the form of: love, money, status, information, goods, services etc. while the costs can be in the form of: conflict, disapproval, criticism, punishment, anxiety, frustration, etc. Life is ‘give and take’ in organisational behaviour, people subconsciously think of the exchange value of relationships and continue with the same as long as rewards outweigh the costs.
Factors influencing inter-personal Relationships
- Role of parents - Generally, every person spends the first few years with one's parents. During this period, the child observes the way parents interact and behave with others within the family as well as outside the family. Naturally, one's behaviour is very highly influenced by one's own parents during the formative years of life.
- Self-identity - Every person is different and has an individual identity of his/her own. Self-identity includes ‘I' and ‘Me'. It is the basis of self-esteem. Self-esteem leads to self-respect, which is sometimes a barrier. Self-identity plays an important role in developing inter-personal relationship with others.
- Communication - The communication ability between individuals is an extremely important factor that decides the nature of inter-personal relationships between them. Communication is a vehicle to convey ideas, feelings, emotions, sentiments, views, opinions, thoughts, etc. Inter-personal communication is the core of inter personal relationships; without proper communication, it is not possible to establish inter-personal relationships.
- Basis of attraction - People are attracted towards each other due to various reasons. Children are attracted due to colours, toys, games and other material things. Teenagers are attracted towards each other due to hobbies, games, studies, etc. Adults are attracted mainly due to physical and mental characteristics, similarity of cultures, customs, traditions, etc. Satisfaction of mutual needs becomes the basis of mutual attraction.
- Role of rewards - Inter-personal relationships depend upon the rewards that accompany behaviour. The rewards are not necessarily in the form of money; they can be in the form of appreciation, recognition, apology, co-operation, help, etc.
- Reciprocity - Generally, it is observed that people have a tendency to treat others as they are treated. ‘Reaction is equal and opposite to action’. The behaviour is reciprocal with that of others.
- Norms and Rules - An informal relationship does not have many strict norms or rules of behaviour. Probably that is why it is called informal. But, in business organisations, there are certain norms and rules of behaviour that are important in the inter-personal relationship. They reduce uncertainty and improve predictability of behaviour.
- Social intelligence - Social intelligence means the intelligence required to behave properly in social groups. It helps to detect clues for the other person's behaviour or expectations.
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