Situation ethics
Man is a social being and enjoys relations in different situations of life. From the time we are born we find ourselves in different types of relationships. At all times we have to be in a relationship, be it brother, sister, mother, neighbor, boss or employee. Which ever the relationship we are at in a particular time, it is essential to ensure that we understand the level of intimacy required to ensure the relationship remain enjoyable. In most cases people relationships with our friends and family members differ from that in found in our working environment. Family and friends relationship is personal while that with work colleagues is formal. Therefore, the way we relate in either relationship is determined by situation of our engagement. Personal and formal relationships should be kept separate to ensure that our relationships remain happy and manageable.
Relationships should be carefully thought and developed; it is only when a problem arises than we take time to think about a relationship. In most cases, mending a broken relationship is more difficult than maintaining a good relationship. We find that by not paying attention to our relationship both personal and formal relationships results to sour relationship are also major causes of stress in humans. A major cause of difficulty in our relationships is when we do not differentiate the personal and formal relationships. Formal relationships which are also referred to as working relationships are found in a working environment either between colleagues or between an employee and a boss. Personal relationships require intimacy and nurturing meaning that people in a personal relationship need to share more and get informal; this is mainly among family members or among spouse. On the other hand, working relationships require lower levels of intimacy. People in a working relationships do not necessary have to share a lot to nurture the relationship. The mode of communication should also remain formal and highly dependant on respect.
Problems occur when a person tries to mix the two types of relationship. For instance when a friend at work start to behave like a brother or mother, then you fell suffocated and the relationship is in most cases ruined after a very short time. Rather than the level of intimacy between the two relationships, level of patience and respect is also different. In personal relationships it is allowed for a person to clearly voice their opinion which may not be the case in all working relationship. For instance, a person can be sweet or rude in a personal relation but the same freedom can not be enjoyed in working relationship. Abiding to the policies of either relationship will assist in maintaining harmony in the relationship. This is best maintained when individuals clearly understand the situation revolving their relationship such as family expectation, office rules and hierarchies.
In conclusion, people can get personal in a personal relationship while in a working relationship the talks remain formal or business like. Diversity is not common in a working relationship and politeness is almost compulsory. But this is different is a personal relationship which is expected to have a wide spectrum of conversations. The situation in the two relationships becomes tricky when relatives are working together and they have to change their relationship. When relatives are working together they have to learn how to strictly abide to a working relationship while at work and later switch to a personal relationship while at home, for instance in the case of spouses working together.
Originally posted 2015-03-14 13:44:48.
