Separating business from friendship with your employers can be tricky but is very necessary. Let’s face it, you spend more time at work than you do at home creating personal relationship in your work space. When working so closely with your co-workers or boss, you come to know their personalities, home life, and work ethic. The lines can become blurred. You can share too much information that will create a personal bias on your behalf. It takes strength and discipline to maintain balance and separation of professional and personal relationships. It can be done. There are numerous long lasting relationships that began as boss and employee. Here are some suggestions to separate the two and have great lasting relationships:
1. Maintain mutual respect.
2. Try to keep the conversation non-work related after business hours.
3. Maintain professionalism and business etiquette during business hours.
4. Do not poison the work relationship by abusing your personal acquaintances with expectations of favoritism.
5. Remember that business is just that, you still must follow proper protocol and accept constructive criticism.
6. Remember that your first priority is to do your best and that business always comes first.
