How to Toe the Line Between Friend and Business Partner - Spark Hire

How to Toe the Line Between Friend and Business Partner - Spark HireIdeally, you want to work with clients who share your values and with whom you connect. If every interaction with a client is like pulling teeth, your job quickly becomes tiresome. However, when you become friends with a business partner, you must be aware of maintaining a sense of professionalism despite your newfound connection. Here are some ways that you can effectively toe the line between friend and business partnerBe aware of what you say on social mediaIts great if you want to friend your client on Facebook or follow each other on Instagram. But once you do that, you must be conscience of what youre posting. Yes, theyre your friend, but you also dont want them questioning your professionalism or your ability to do your job well. If youre constantly posting about drinking or being hungover, they may start to doubt your ability to meet a deadline. If you arent willing to make your social media content more clie nt-friendly, keep your online connection limited to professional sites like LinkedIn.Be positiveEveryone has schwimmbad days. But if you constantly take to social media to complain about your job (or worse, your clients) then youre jeopardizing your relationship with your business partners. Save the ranting for your best friend or your mom, and make sure to project positivity on your social media platforms.Be aware that social gatherings are still business functionsIf you get invited to a business partners holiday party, enjoy yourself, but be aware that this is still a business function. Take care not to drink too much, and always conduct yourself in a professional manner. You can loosen up and have fun, but you never want to become the talk of the party.Be careful what you shareNo matter how close you feel to your client, you should place a limit on the amount of personal information you share with this person. Even if you dont care if they know about your weekend escapades, you d ont want them passing these details on to other people. Share enough to build a connection, but dont give up information that could be damaging to your professional reputation.How do you navigate a friendship with a client? Let us know in the commentsImage Deklofenak/BigStock.com