Anyone who’s ever gone into business with a friend knows that it’s not always easy to keep things professional. After all, when you’re friends with someone, you already have a built-in relationship of trust and respect. However, that doesn’t mean that friendship and business always mix well. In fact, there are quite a few potential pitfalls that can occur when you try to mix the two.
1. Define roles early on
One of the most important things you can do when going into business with a friend is to establish defined roles early on. This will help ensure that there is a clear understanding of who is responsible for what aspect of the business. Without defined roles, it can be easy for things to become muddled, which can lead to conflict down the road.
2. Set boundaries
Another important thing to do when embarking on a business venture with a friend is to set boundaries. This means being clear about what is and isn’t acceptable in terms of communication and behavior. For example, you may want to set rules about discussing personal matters at work or communicating outside of work hours. Having established boundaries will help keep things from getting too personal and crossing into dangerous territory.
3. Keep communication professional
It’s also important to keep communication professional at all times. This means using proper language and avoiding informalities such as nicknames or slang. It’s also important to avoid sharing too much personal information, as this can make it difficult to remain strictly business-focused. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and keep communication respectful and professional.
That’s why it’s important to know how to keep friendship and business separate. After all, while it is possible to be friends with someone you do business with, it’s not always advisable. There are a few key things you should keep in mind if you want to successfully mix friendship and business. By following these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to keeping friendship and business separate!