Taken from www.wisegeek.com:
The role of a subordinate is to perform duties or accept delegated responsibilities assigned by a superior. An office manager, for example, may assign routine paperwork to a subordinate in order to concentrate on an important project of his or her own. Because the relationship is superior/subordinate, the employee has an obligation to perform the assigned task. This is not the same relationship as a co-worker asking for assistance or a personal favor. There is a certain level of respect for a superior's position that motivates a subordinate to accept the task or responsibility.
An employee on the bottom rung of a corporate ladder may be considered a subordinate to virtually everyone else, but eventually he or she may be promoted to a position with some managerial responsibilities. A subordinate often observes a superior's average workday in order to learn what skills would be necessary to advance. Bosses and their subordinates may have very strong working relationships, or they may not mesh well as a team. Personality clashes between a superior and a subordinate may also make their working relationship difficult. An employee in a subordinate role may feel undervalued, while a superior may feel a subordinate does not respect his or her authority.
The relationship between a subordinate and a superior may also be regulated by company policies. Because a certain level of respect and distance should be maintained, managers are often discouraged from fraternizing with subordinate employees outside the office. Too much familiarity with a subordinate could lead to charges of favoritism or leniency in the workplace. By restricting social contact between superiors and subordinates, many company leaders hope to keep relationships on a professional level.
There is also a great deal of emphasis placed on romantic relationships between subordinates and superiors. Even if the relationship itself is consensual, there is a risk that the superior may expose the company to a sexual harassment lawsuit if the relationship with a subordinate ends badly. Employees in a direct superior/subordinate professional relationship are often discouraged from forming personal relationships in order to avoid potential complications in the future.
My opinion:
1) As a muslim, relations amat penting. Meaning to be devoid of personal relationship would create robots or emphathic human being at the work place. I do not think that there is a need to sever social interactions or personal relations or not having good friends at the work place. Eventhough, one is a superior and the other is a subordinate, one can be good friends. But it is difficult, to ensure that the friendship that develops are not being abused my either party to gain LENIENCY or to be taken advantage upon on the trust or friendship that has developed through the years.
2) I tend to agree that an understanding between supervisor-subordinate on the work relation must be professional irregardless of how close you are. Again, there must be understanding between the two, if not you'll get problematic subordinate who in the end will sever his/her ties with you just because of issues at work!
3) A supervisor should also treats his/her staff with respect where respect is due. One should not blindly cover up problems/condone irresponsible behaviour just because you are close. Again... note that in a working relationship; it is regulated by Company policy. Hence, if your subordinate does something wrong i.e not showing up for work .. no communication .. non performance .. You as the supervisor need to communicate to the subordinate about this matter and also to ensure that company policies are adhered to. Of course kita ni manusia ... IHSAN .. kita tak kejam.. normally report for further action setelah berkali-kali remind to improve on job related matters or attendance matters.
4) As a boss, you need to get acquaintance with your subordinates; to understand their names, their routines, their strengths, their weaknesses, and equally important, is their attitudes. How will they build working relationship with you? How do you understand the dimensions behind the relationship? - taken from www.articlebase.com.
- Know their strength
- Know their weaknesses and attitudes
- routines and responsibilities
in the article it is stated that there are 3 types of relations between Sv & Subordinate.
1) Relationship by Job title - OKAY
The first step is relationship by title. In the very beginning, the relationship is merely relied on your superior job title over your subordinates; for instance, manager with staff, and supervisor with worker. Your relationship or source of power is come with the subordinates' perception of an authority attained from your superior status. Without this, you are nothing more than a peer working with them. You cannot order and instruct them
2) Relationship by Job Knowledge - OKAY
The second step or stage is the solid job-related knowledge carried with you. Your working experience and your education background will boost your professionalism and your authority in your department. In fact, your salary and package provided by the company is majority depended on this to negotiate during your job interview with current company. Your subordinates will come to you with questions, and sometimes with challenges, and look for your answers and advises. It is a right moment you can further enhance the relationship by providing them with expertise answers and effective instructions to resolve their problems.
3) Relationship by Respect - STILL NEED TO DEVELOP THIS SKILL.
The last step is the relationship by respect. This is one of the major ingredients to maintain the positive relationship with your team. If you can coach your subordinates with your professional knowledge and with enthusiastic attitude, you will win the respect from your team under your leadership. Equally important, you should respect them as they respect you. This step will help building a positive and long-lasting working relationship with your subordinates.
It is difficult to fulfill everybody's expectation or to be the most liked supervisor! In the end, it all comes down to roles and responsibilities. What are the supervisor's responsibilities and what are the subordinate's responsibilities. At the end of the day, you yourselves need to ask; what have you done today? Have you done your job to the expectation of your superior? Good? Mediocre?Excellent? Bad? Have you communicate issues that may have affected your deliverables? Do you take for granted or use the friendship that you had with your supervisor to gain/ or you expect leniency on issues that you may have brought up? Supervisor - are you to authoritative? Rigid? Do not reason well with subordinate? lack of empathy? Do you facilitate? Impart knowledge?- Now which one am I? I am a supervisor and also a subordinate to two bosses. So these questions also applies to me too. Have I done to the best of my ability to supersvise and guide my subordinate? As a subordinate; have I fullfilled the needs and tasks assigned by my senior bosses? Arghhhh .. lets see my APAR for 2010; whether they feel I did the job well or not.
These are my ramblings at 3.28 am. May I need to read back an article here by Patricia Wallington. Its a good read..mmg kena baca!
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