When some people leave for work in the morning, they are able to leave their personal lives behind and not enter back into that world until they return home that evening. There are others who actually work with family members and significant others, and sometimes it can be messy when personal relationships overlap with life in the workplace. If you work with someone you care about, you understand how important it is to know how to balance the personal aspects of your daily life with your work.
One thing that will help is to have clear and candid discussions with the other person about how to navigate this tricky situation well. Perhaps you are business partners and will have to make difficult decisions together, or maybe one of you holds a higher position than the other. These dynamics can be complicated when there are always personal feelings and complex relationships at play. Communication is crucial, both at home and in the workplace.
If you are with the same person everyday, it can begin to affect how that relationship works. It’s good to take breaks sometimes, perhaps going out with friends or enjoying hobbies alone. This can help you keep your personal relationship healthy, which in turn will make it easier to work together Monday through Friday.
One of the trickiest parts of working with someone you care about is when there are disagreements. In personal relationships, partners don’t always agree, and this can be the case in professional relationships as well. In the workplace, it is especially important for partners to keep it professional at all times. Keep personal feelings out of work-related discussions and disagreements. Otherwise, you may muddy the waters, making it difficult to reach any kind of practical and beneficial agreement.
Having some basic rules in place as to how you will handle personal relationships in the workplace can prove invaluable. These can lay the groundwork for a successful work life and peace in your personal life. It can take time and effort, but it is possible to work with a loved one or close friend and make it work well.
By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC