The role of a friend.

The role of a friend. In business & life. 

If you know me, I’m super direct. Always have been. I’m not great at doing otherwise. 

I think that having friends who aren’t afraid to tell you the truth, that sometimes isn’t ‘what you like to hear’ is really important.

I also believe that being friends in business is also key to longer lasting client relationships and internal team dynamics too - but this is not the easiest to achieve. 

While I was working at Apple, I admired the leadership skills of our managers, how they managed to keep clear boundaries yet it would make the work so fun and incredible to be around. There would be this switch of a mode into one or the other but clear respect for when it would be appropriate. The friendliness added a closeness, a mutual love and understanding that definitely enhanced performance. I tried to model the way I work around that.

Pulling in the same approach to apply to my business was not difficult. Especially as my business specializes in supporting Creative CEO’s, these were personal brands, photographers and creators in Travel. So we easily aligned on many fronts - this made supporting them so easy because I wasn’t just this business contractor, I became integrated to their goals, we became partners.  

There’s always been an element of a personal connection for me. I know them deeply, because well our personal lives also affect our business life. 

I could always understand if something was happening even before they’d share because I could see it in the patterns of our consistent communication. 

What I enjoyed the most in these dynamics, was the space to tap into what actions we were collectively taking that was bringing them closer to their goals. During our calls, we had to reflect on what the next steps were, and really check in to see if they felt aligned to what we truly wanted to achieve. A space for reflection, for strategy and an honest check-in. 

These honest check-ins, allow for better growth. Even outside of business.

These are the kind of moments I prefer with my friendships. I invite more of these interactions. I want more of my tribe, my community to tell me ways I’m able to be even BETTER. 

I prefer it if someone openly shared their true observations rather than having a friend who is afraid to tell you otherwise. 

Where’s any possible growth in that? 

Sure it’s comfortable and you don’t have to be afraid of treading on someone’s emotions. But the kind of relationships that you should have are the ones where you can have a range of experiencing confrontations, realizations, reflection along with great support and joyfulness together. Friendships should not be one sided. The people that you experience in life serve in different ways, that might be in fun, joy but I think the kind that become part of your core community - should be the ones who help you grow. 

The kind who challenge you to do greater than you already do, the ones who can point out if you need to improve, someone who calls you out if you aren’t acting in integrity or if there’s just an opportunity for you to even help them more. 

We really do not have time for the kind of friendships that are surface level anymore.

Do you see this in the same way? How do your friendships feel?