I'm Your Friend!: Beware the Pitfalls When You Create Relationships That Are Too Personal-Why Being Both Boss and Friend Won't Work

By: Kent Lineback and Linda A. Hill

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Synopsis: Do you consider your direct reports your friends? For many managers, the instinct to build close personal relationships in their interactions at work is a powerful one-they have an intense need to be liked. But if you confuse being liked with being trusted and respected, you will find yourself in a classic managerial trap. In this chapter, authors Linda Hill and Kent Lineback explain why creating close personal ties with your subordinates can lead to trouble in your journey to becoming a great boss: You won't be able to make tough but necessary decisions about your staff or give critical but helpful feedback. In the long run you'll be less effective. In this chapter you'll learn how to keep your relationships with your direct reports on track: caring and human, but clearly focused on your team and its work. This chapter was originally published as Chapter 3 of "Being the Boss: The 3 Imperatives for Becoming a Great Leader."