The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

 

March 13, 2015 Befriend Your Boss Without Causing Resentment Being friends with your boss can be complicated. If you genuinely like each other and want to have a social bond, a friendship is worth cultivating, as it would be with any coworker. But don’t make a special effort beyond what you’d do with any other colleague. If the boss/friend line is too blurry, articulate where you stand in the moment: “I’m speaking as your friend here…” or “As your employee, I’m telling you…” And you don’t want others to think you’re getting special treatment, so take time to consider the decisions your boss is making. Are you getting all the good assignments and easy trips? Ask trusted coworkers if your relationship is a problem for others. If it does seem to be causing resentment, talk with your boss. You might say, “I really appreciate you’ve given me some of the softball assignments, but I’m concerned my colleagues might perceive this as favoritism.” Adapted from “Can You Be Friends With Your Boss?” by Karen Dillon.

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Ebook Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT How to Invest Your Time Like Money HBR Press Book How to Invest Your Time Like Money is a concise, practical guide to get you out of time debt. Unlike others, who create the false hope that if only you worked harder, faster, longer, and smarter, you could do everything you want, time coach Elizabeth Grace Saunders introduces a process to better manage your limited time so you can focus on what’s important. Complete with proven techniques and exercises – based on the principles of personal finance – you will learn to identify your time debt, create a balanced budget, build a base schedule, maximize your time ROI, and identify a process to get you back on track—and stay there. Buy Now

FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case Ebook + Tools HBR Press Book This enhanced eBook version of the HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case includes downloadable tools and templates to help you get started on your own case right away. You've got a great idea that will increase profitability or productivity – but how do you get approval for the budget and resources to make it happen? By building a business case that clearly shows your idea's value. Available exclusively through HBR.org. Buy Now

ADVERTISEMENT

HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | TOPICS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2015 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)