Most of us have been told “don’t mix business with friendship”—but the truth is, plenty of people do. Sometimes it works beautifully: built-in trust, loyalty, and an easy rapport. Other times, it can go sideways fast, straining both the business and the relationship.
In this episode, Cindi Baldi digs into the upsides and downsides of hiring friends. Through stories of businesses that flourished with friend partnerships—and others that fractured under the weight of blurred boundaries—Cindi explores the key questions you should ask before bringing a friend onto your payroll. Along the way, she unpacks how to spot red flags, set the right expectations, and know whether the friendship is strong enough to handle the pressures of work.
You’ll learn why friendship can be a competitive advantage, why conflict is harder (but not impossible) to navigate when it’s personal, and how to make thoughtful choices that protect both the relationship and the business. Whether you’re tempted to bring a friend onto your team or already managing that dynamic, this episode offers practical insights to help you make the right call.
Episode Highlights:
- Why hiring friends sometimes leads to loyalty, trust, and great teamwork
- Common pitfalls—like blurred boundaries, favoritism, and unspoken expectations
- How to tell whether the friendship is ready for the pressures of work
- Strategies for setting clear agreements and roles up front
- Ways to protect the friendship even if the job doesn’t work out
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Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:
- Brady, G. L., Inesi, M. E.., & Mussweiler, T. (2021). The Power of Lost Alternatives in Negotiations. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.
- Fisher, R., Ury, W., & Patton, B. (1991). Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.
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