Do you have colleagues that are also friends? Are they colleagues first, friends second? Or friends first, colleagues second? If you have worked in business long enough, you'll know that many relationships are ruined over business. Friendships can be destroyed and even families ripped apart. It can get dangerous. That's why many people say "never do business with friends".
When I spoke to Gordon (not his real name), he stressed the importance of a "friends first, colleagues second" mentality in his start-up company. Gordon started a tech business with two friends last year. Before they started, the three friends wrote out a covenant with each other - an agreement for how they would treat each other while doing business together. To them, honouring God in their business meant honouring one another.
With their permission, I'm able to share with you some of the main points in their covenant.
1. Respect each other, regardless if you disagree with them.
2. Our friendship is above the venture itself.
3. Act transparently and take ownership.
4. Forgive each other.
5. Honesty and integrity in every aspect of the business.
6. Understand and appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses.
7. Daily decisions are based on God's Word.
8. Tithe 10% of the company's net income.
9. Meet scheduled goals or targets.
10. Review and recommit this covenant annually (add but not remove).
So far, it's worked for them. They are still worked well together, and the business is growing. But in the back of my mind I wonder how practical it is to put friendship above the business. What happens when their company expands? Do they value all relationships within the company over the business, or just the business partners? What happens when there is an unsolvable disagreement? Will the partners sacrifice the business to save the friendship? Tough questions.
Do you value your work friendships over the business, or the business over your work friendships?
No comments:
Post a Comment