Balancing Rapport With Co-Workers

Having been immersed into a position that is a grassroots human services agency, I find myself supervising different levels of staff. There is the danger of being too familiar with the employees and the people I serve which in turn would make it difficult to be direct and objective when corrective actions are needed. In a fairly uncultured environment, I perceive that some of the norms I accepted as professional behavior, and office etiquette are not exercised therefore, the onus has been on me to set a clear line of demarcation to be effective in carrying out my duties. This has been new to me as prior to now, I was not in paraprofessional environments, having worked with attorneys, clergy, educators, professionals, everyone was clear on their roles and the hierarchy of the organization. There are times when I feel I am being too hard on the staff, but I have come to find out if I allow the familiarity that has become prevalent in the environment, I will be ineffective in carrying out my duties for the good of the whole. As a servant/leader the balance for me has been to remain secure in my position of interactions that "I do no harm" to those that I serve under my leadership. Familiarity does breed contempt and in an environment where emotions can drive decisions making it is imperative that all the decision that are made are done justly, humbly and for the good of the whole.