How to Be Friends With Someone Who Works for You

Managing a friendship with a subordinate employee can be done by following five tips, according to CEO coach Sabina Nawaz in the Harvard Business Review . Managers should first choose their friends carefully. "Having a friend who is a subordinate requires high degrees of trust and judgment on both parts," Nawaz writes. "It's not possible with every work relationship." The second tip is to establish expectations at the start of the relationship. "You will have knowledge and responsibilities beyond your friend's role and clearance, and your friend needs to know that," Nawaz notes. "Be transparent up front about what you can and can't share." The third imperative is for managers to clarify their roles in conversation. "Explicitly setting norms together for how you will work and play creates equality and equanimity in your friendship," Nawaz says. "Whether you're in a one-on-one conversation in the office or hanging out together after work, be transparent about what kind of conversation you're having." Being transparent with others is Nawaz's fourth tip for managers. "Others might feel awkward disclosing their feelings about your employee, especially if they have negative feedback," she notes. "They might wonder if you'll hold their comments against them, or if you might unduly influence the outcome of the discussion." Nawaz's final tip is for managers to prioritize their job responsibilities over friendships. "Even if you're afraid of hurting your friend's feelings or fear they might get defensive, speak up, but be prepared that there may be rocky times or even long breaks in your relationship," she advises.