Oh, Regina George! Those who met her won't ever forget her.
The Mean Girls' primary antagonist, Regina George, is the perfect example of a high school bully who yields her power from close colleagues' fears to manipulate and harass other students. She is the embodiment of the destructive power of the clique. Unfortunately, most of us believe we are free of the clique's oppressive culture when we leave high school. Still, we realize that's not true as soon we enter our professional careers.
That's because humans are creatures of habit, and the dynamics we learn in our formative years are often carried out for the rest of our lives. Therefore, the clique culture became so common in corporate environments that unbeknownst, it affects entire industries.
Who didn't miss an opportunity or a coveted project or promotion because of the boss's favoritism? Did you notice the rotation of people in power in some segments? There's nothing new in any of this, and we got so used to it that we don't realize the enduring influence of the clique to keep this going. According to a recent study by BrightHR– a cloud-based HR management solution– 43% of workers say there are cliques in their workplace.
Clique members sometimes use subtle, other times bluntly aggressive, ways to exercise power and influence. They cast divergent voices out by bullying and isolating them. The target is often the usual suspects, and it highlights the undertones of racism, sexism, prejudice, and intolerance prevalent among them.
We cannot confront racism, intolerance, and inequalities in the workplace if we don't recognize the enabling influence of clique culture.
Isn't it time to look into systemic bullying created by the power of clique culture in the work environment?
Like many of us, I've experienced my own share of challenges with it in my career. But after working for more than 25 years in a highly competitive industry, I thought I could write about it because I know many other stories of friends and colleagues who went through challenging situations at work. Cases that go from straightforward harassment to more subtle ways of manipulation. Many lost their jobs because they spoke up. Others subsided, fearing retaliation or losing their jobs, and many talents are permanently lost. But the clique network always stays. They are all the same, rotating among different companies and roles. If you are not one of them, you either wish you were, or you are just envious you are not as good as them. The narrative never changes.
Having a group of employees who work well together isn't bad at all. In fact, it can potentially result in higher levels of productivity. But an exclusive membership clique can foster toxic behavior that can affect the work environment and productivity negatively. This group dynamic also doesn't encourage people to think independently, which isn't conducive to innovative and out-of-the-box thinking. Clique culture doesn't help promote healthy competition too– an "us and them" mentality created by clique's rivalry is damaging to workplace morale. Also, staff members who felt unfairly treated or left out at work can file lawsuits against the company (in the US Equality Act 2010), claiming discrimination and asking for financial compensation.
In short, clique culture is bad for business.
The truth is that they aren't an evil gang trying to take down the competition. Fear is at the clique's foundation. In fact, many times, what drives them is the fear of others judging or excluding them. Cliques act in a sort of preventive way– I'll bully you before you get the chance of bullying me. It's about socializing and survival. But, in the end, regardless of the appearances, nobody wins.
To me, this is another case of calling in instead of calling out. We need to call people in so we can have a conversation about it. As we refuse to talk and acknowledge it, we are enabling and normalizing clique culture. With companies beginning to plan to go back to the office or choosing a hybrid model, this is the perfect time to look into the issue and update today’s workplace culture.