Top Management Tips - Don't Hire Friends

Cullen Adams

Cullen Adams

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Not only can it compromise (and in some cases destroy) a perfectly good friendship, but it can do the same to the business.

Sometimes, it works. But hire with caution, and a heck of a lot of communication (both in the friendship and business).
Be prepared to wear different hats while at work and after work. If you can great, but most of us, myself included can't.
 
They have been saying that since the beginning of time, Don't hire friends or family.

I grew up in a family business and most of the time friends don't work as hard, try to kiss butt to try to get out of work, or are lazy and come up with a lot of excuses, not many times are they good, hard workers.
 
I will agree to disagree. One of my best friends is my operations manager. An advantage is, he knows what is like to own your own business, because he has been there. He also knows that he goes out before I do if something happens.
I do have advantage, when the economy turned, and his business fell off, we worked together powerwashing stuff, and I found that he is a tremendously hard worker, and I am sure that translates to what he is doing now. I will admit though, it is extremely rare.
 
I had around 5 friends work for my business in the past. 2 of them were a little desperate and they were pretty good but nowhere near as good as the guys I hired now. I kept that one friend on for around 7 yrs where he worked weekends.. So that was OK. The other guy worked for me 3 yrs full time because he got wiped out from divorces and he was just a mess. He was also in my wedding party yrs earlier. He was OK when he worked but he wasn't that hard of a worker and if he wasn't so down and out I would have fired him.. But he needed this job and he was and is still a good friend. He should have been fired quite a few times but I just couldn't do it... He ended up leaving and moving to China.. So my Dad was right.. Do not hire friends..

So today my business rocks with real solid workers who I do not become friends with.

Also on my PWNA committee. I had friends who asked me why they weren't asked and I also expressed to this committee that they were not picked because where friends cause where not.. I hated saying that but besides Joe Walters who I talked to maybe twice a yr the other guys and I were not close and you could say where not friends.

We respect each other and we could become friends after this is done but this is not about friendships just like the way most jobs should be like. This is about having very strong individuals who can excel at getting the job done.

I find that works best in the real world to get the ones who I think are the best at certain things.

Quick note back in my UAMCC days I have fond memories but part of the problem we had in there was a few of us you could consider to be friends.. And looked how that ended up. The bad blood was all over the place... Today I can say we mended our past sad history there.

Today and this is not organizational... If you really want to get things done especially in the volunteer world do not pick friends unless you have no one else... and that can be risky.

Look for the best at what they can do and go from there... Just like a job. Surround yourself with what you consider are the best you can get for the task at hand... And in most cases it will not be your good friend IMHO unless it's something there really good at but beware the day you have to tell them something they may not like.. And to lose a friendship over something trivial because they work for you is probably no going to be worth it..

Worse then having friends work for you is having a partnership with anyone no less a friend but there are reasons u may need a partner but that is very risky. Silent partners is another story but to bring in a friend as a partner or even a family member I can't tell you how many times in my cop days the family disputes we went to because of this.

Friends should stay friends but business can destroy that yrs and yrs of a great friendship in no time at all.
 
About all I hire is friends, or ones that come become friends. Just easier to work that way for me. But, they know, when it's on the job it's business and I am their boss. Off the job, we are friends. Gotta know how to separate the two. Most of the times it works great, a few times not.
 
Been there done that with both family and friends. Only worked out good once. I try never to get too buddy buddy with anyone who works for me.
 
greg/sd said:
I have had mixed results hiring friends and family. A couple have been great employees the others have been so so. I think its really about the individual your hiring.
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I think a lot of the problem with hiring friends is that people naturally have a higher expectation of what their friends should do, because they are friends. When you are on the clock, or working, they are not a friend for that time, but an employee. The need to know that, and we need to remember that as business owners that we are the decision maker.
I have an employee that calls my wife mom. Funny story how it happened, but I gave the guy a job when he was down on his luck, and took a chance. He has turned out to be a phenomenal employee that is absolutely dedicated. When it comes to work though, he will give an opinion, when appropriate, but when the decision is made, he treats it as if it is his decision. Just the type of people that I want working for me.
 
I went to business classes at roundtables and also I learned from talking to people I know who are successful in business. They talk about this one. The advice given is do not hire friends and also when you hire people be nice to them of course but do not become like a friend... Why?? Friendship is a two way street and when people get real comfortable with each other then there harder to manage in the business world. Also friends may get extra preferential treatment and if employees catch on to that ... Down goes the moral.

Here's one for ya.. How about hiring a spouse as pretty much an equal partner. Best thing I ever did but my company is small. The bigger business people I know here they would never do that. They hire there wives and pay them well but they have no say in there company. Most times they never hire there wives at all. These are multimillion dollar companies.

Small companies I think that has a chance to work.. Mom and pop companies. Larger companies with large impacting decisions... Disaster will be looming.

One of the richest guys I know started his business with his brother. They live 5 minutes apart. They haven't spoken to each other in over 10 yrs and some of is tried to get them to talk while in the same room... There both strong minded and stubborn but nice as heck.. Yet they will not talk to each other and if you talk to them separately they talk highly about the other but they can't get over what went on in there business world that also included there mother.. Sad story.
 
If your friends are un-hireable and your family is difficult to work with, you need to find a better class of friends and family. No one should get a free pass because of your relationship but I've done major projects for three siblings and would do it again in a heartbeat. My dear mom on the other hand, she needs to find someone else for the big stuff. I already know how it's gong to turn out, not good.The one man on earth I call brother that I am not related to was first hired by me fifteen years ago.
 
Timothy said:
If your friends are un-hireable and your family is difficult to work with, you need to find a better class of friends and family. No one should get a free pass because of your relationship but I've done major projects for three siblings and would do it again in a heartbeat. My dear mom on the other hand, she needs to find someone else for the big stuff. I already know how it's gong to turn out, not good.The one man on earth I call brother that I am not related to was first hired by me fifteen years ago.
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good story Tim. Was that your son I met? Seems like a real good kid. Theres exceptions to every rule and guys like you made it work. One of the companies I deal with is PC Richards and Son. We do there residential stuff. Thsts a family run business thats been around close to A 100yrs. There stores beat the heck out of the best buy stores here and there company is one of the largest ran family company in NY state. So theres never an exact to the rule of thumb about not hiring friends or family. Your storry is refreshing about ur siblings.
 
Its not about "friends" or "family". It is about the persons involved in the relationship. Unfortunately, "friends" and "family" seem to feel a sense of entitlement in some cases. If the person is one who is personally accountable, sincere, humble and a good work ethic. Then it should be a decent fit. If those traits do not exist in friends or family it is best to hire persons that fit that pedigree.
 
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