Sadly, these small, tight-knit social groups didn’t fade away just because you’re an adult. You can find cliques within the workplace. And just like in elementary school and high school, they can have a negative effect. Cliques seriously harm employee engagement. Read on to learn how to identify cliques and eliminate their destructive impact.

The reason humans never grow out of cliques is rooted in our nature. We’re genetically predisposed to form small groups, even if the basis for forming such bonds is as trivial as wearing the same color shirt.

Cliques give us a feeling of security and identity. When we’re part of a clique, we belong to something bigger than ourselves.

Although cliques might make us feel better about ourselves, they’re not a social phenomenon to be exalted. In fact, the presence of cliques can say some rather unfavorable things about the company and about their members.

Katherine Crowley has co-authored two books on social dynamics at the workplace. In an interview with Forbes, she said that cliques tend to form at companies where there is weak management. “They are like office gangs that emerge to fill in the void of leadership,” Crowley commented.

While clique members may wield power in the workplace, Crowley and her co-author Kathi Elster noted that they aren’t respected professionally. It’s rare to see a clique made up of the firm’s highest performers.

Cliques can intimidate other employees. Their impact can be so damaging that coworkers will leave the company rather than put up with these social groups.

How can you prevent your employees from suffering the effects of cliques? Implement a method to eliminate them at the workplace. It’s not as difficult or scary as it sounds.

The employee reward and recognition management solution provider Achievers hit upon a unique way to help new employees successfully integrate into the company’s culture. Whenever the company hires someone, managers pair the new employee with someone who’s been at the firm for a while.

Managers at Achievers seek to pair up people from similar backgrounds – if the new guy has young children, they’ll set him up with someone else with small kids. The veteran takes the time to get to know the employee, so the new person feels as though he or she has someone to turn to at Achievers.

Don’t want to wait until next year to find out whether your employees are engaged or not? Contact Grapevine Evaluations today.

Grapevine Evaluations is the go-to choice for companies such as Pandora Radio, Thompson Reuters, and Macy’s. Isn’t it time that you found out how 360 degree feedback can help your company? Contact us today to schedule a one-on-one demo!