Business versus Personal

Business is Business. We all need to remember that . . . there are times as leaders that business gets personal, especially as our personal lives become more intertwined with business. However, you must separate emotional personal feelings from business decision. If you dont, you will end up making a possible irrational decision.

Situation might be something like, you are a personal friend of one of your colleagues but they are not performing well. After giving them several chances, at some point in time, you need to address it in a formal business way. In the past, I have had to address this situation, and found that the person was struggling themselves (because they knew they were not performing up to expectations) but they kept trying (versus quiting) out of loyalty to the personal friend. When I fired the person, it was a look of relief on that person's face (after I spent several nights dreading the moment). It was a learning for me . . . business is business, and must keep personal emotions out of the process.

The opposite is true as well, you might despise someone personally, but you cannot let this bias your business decision.

There are other times, where you might become so emotional that you fail to make a rational decision. Try your best to remove emotions from the business decision making process. I am not saying . . . dont be emotional or passionate about decisions but from inserting your personal emotions (both good and bad) into a business decision that need a consistent and rational decision!

All leaders have been in this situation, it's not easy, but just remember business is business.