Promotion dilemma: now managing friends

[HOGFAN]

I have been with a company for 10 years with the same bunch of people. we are all very close,all friends,even with the boss. For reasons I wont go into, my boss is getting demoted(she has known it was a possibility for months). I have been offered her job. No, I did not seek it, her boss has been after me for years to take it. I also have a best friend at work. Now I will be her boss.
I know I have to be impartial and fair. I am just interested in how others have handled such a situation. thanks

 

[WDWBarb]

I would say that it's a rare situation where you can "manage" your best friend.

This has been a hot topic in my life as of late - I have many friends dealing with issues relating to their boss being a friend, or NOT a friend. I'm also seeing issues in my own office because of friendships with bosses.

I know you can't and shouldn't end a friendship simply because of this situation, but you are going to have to tread carefully and work hard to keep this in balance.

Wish I had more advice ...

 

[Christine]

My best friend is my boss and has been for the last year and a half.

We have been friends for 20 years. We met on the job and worked side by side as equals. About 7 years ago, she left our company to join the government. Because she values my work, as soon as an opening came up and she was in a position to hire, she hired me into her office.

She is my direct supervisor. There have been no problems whatsoever because both of us are mature and sane individuals.

As a friend, I would NEVER put her in any position to have to treat me differently or show any sort of favoritism. Both of us are very sensitive to our relationship and how it appears in the office. I don't ask more of her or for any special treatment than I would any other boss and YOUR friend needs to do the same.

In return, I am treated just as any other coworker. In fact, sometimes I might almost be "punished" for being her friend because we try SO HARD not to show any sort of favoritism that sometimes she might not do things for me that she normally would because the issue.

Overall though, it has not been that difficult. I will say that the situation has to work BOTH ways and your friends are going to have to do their part and not have unrealistic expectations of you. There is going to be the "friendship" and then there is going to be "business" and they have to expect that both of you will be very objective and impartial when it comes to the business.

As I said, I believe it can be done with mature, sane people but, I happen to know there aren't always a lot of those out there.;

Good luck and congratulations on your promotion!