When you're a business owner you dealing with your customers can be
almost as stressful as dealing with friends and family members who want to be
involved in your business. Maybe your
best friend wants you to get their teenager a job for the summer, or perhaps
your uncle wants to show off his business expertise by helping you manage the
company. Every business owner from Mark Bouri to the
owner of the local bar have to deal with their loved ones and their desire to
get involved with the business. If
you're concerned about hiring someone ask yourself these following questions, your
answers will make the solution much more clear.
How will this person improve my business?
That question sounds like a no-brainer, but it's common for business
owners in this position to consider giving their friend or loved one a job
simply because they're a friend or loved one.
You should treat your potential employee the same way you would any other
job applicant, think about their skills instead of their relation to you.
Can I resolve a conflict easily with this person?
If you're going to be closely involved with someone professionally you
need to make sure that you're able to efficiently and peacefully confront and
solve problems when they arise. If you
and your friend or family member always seem to be clashing over something,
that could be a sign that going into business with them could be a big mistake.
Can we separate our business lives and our personal lives?
When people give advice about navigating the professional world, someone
will always tell them to learn how to leave business at the office and your
personal problems at home. Doing this on
your own can be difficult, and when you're working with someone you personally
know it becomes a lot more difficult. If
your friend always seems to be ranting about work at BBQs, or spends the work
day e-mailing you about a personal problem, they may not be the best choice for
a business partner.
