Christian Living

---

Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday January 24, 2007

In the depths of final preparation for my upcoming book, temporarily titled, "Lasting Friendships in 30 Days," I have been called upon to treat the subject of dealing with friends in a professional setting namely, how to supervise or in English, be the boss/leader in a business setting where one or more friends answer to you. Easy? Yes, as pie, if you follow a few simple truths.

Let's take a look at responsibilities of friends in two steps:

"As a friend I have responsibility to God, to you and to myself, concerning our friendship. As a friend charged with motivating and monitoring your performance I have a responsibility to God, to you, to myself AND to the folks paying the bills." LML.

A correct understanding of the above statement will help all parties involved in any friendship/business relationship.

About 25 years ago I read the following and learned some good lessons from it:

"A father came home each night lugging two brief cases full of work to do in the evening. His little girl asked him to read to her and he, in an irritated tone said, 'Honey, can't you see I'm busy with all of this work?' The child responded, 'Well, daddy, maybe they should put you in a slower group!'"

The man's superior was most likely a 'friend,' a friend who was derelict in his duties to his employee. God does not want a person worked to death or to the point of losing his health and his family. He himself should not expect more of himself than does God. And certainly the leader should know that a good worker will burn out and the resulting financial loss incurred by the company is not worth it. Jesus did teach His closest followers to come aside and rest awhile.

More times than you might believe the kindest thing a friend can do for his friend in his professional care is to simply say, "According to all of the facts this working part of our friendship is not working, so in honesty to God, to you, and to all concerned, I am letting you go. To continue this way is not fair to anyone involved."

Tough? Yes, but not nearly as tough as the alternative of nervous breakdowns, marital breakup, even suicide. Or in some cases at the Post Office, murder.

Principle? Deal honestly with your friends.

"A friend is one who knows who you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still gently allows you to grow." William Shakespeare

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE