What quality do you value most in a friend?

QUALIFYING FRIENDSHIP

“Friendship“ can be valuable and create everlasting relationships between people who have social, cultural and recreational links. I believe that it can also be problematic if it creates a situation where within occupations, it can get in the way. From one of my early learnings in watching it happen for others I can say that “to be friends with those who are responsible to you within organisations, is not always wise.“ To be a friend and a boss of those with whom the friendship is established can create problems and plays strains on both those relationships.

From quite early on in my teaching experience I saw situations occur where those in leadership positions had pressures placed upon them to compromise decisions based on their friendship with those for whom they were responsible in a workplace context. For this reason, I made sure throughout my career that I was never close personal friends with people for whom I was Manager really responsible.

Of the downside of that was it in remote areas I had to get by in friendship isolation from those with whom I have worked. However, that in no way diminish the respect that I fell for them nor the respect I hope they had for me. The separation of personal from professional contexts was important. I adheresto that principle of operation for the whole of my working life.

Otherwise, I have from time to time had friendships but never close embracing ones.

For me the most valuable thing about association is respect the people have for one another. Respect can never be outdone by any other criteria or value. But if wrongfully handed respect can be quickly lost. And that was really the reason I identified the way I did with others.

With my associates relationships

including mutual respect are held and exchanged. But I would not class them as close, sharing, bonded friends.