What to Do When Your Friends Want Your Professional Help and Advice - The Muse

What to Do When Your Friends Want Your Professional Help and Advice - The MuseWhat to Do When Your Friends Want Your Professional Help and Advice You would do just about anything for your friends. But, when putting in a good word turns into a straight-up request for a job, or a quick favor becomes asking you to work for free, youre in need of a way to politely decline. Heres a guide to the most common awkward situations, and what you can do to maintain your professional rep- without losing friends. 1. Your Friend Wants an lntroductionSo, your friend asks you to connect her with an important person in your network. Even if you think its a great idea, you should always start with a double-opt in email, which gives your contact the opportunity to decline. (Heres a template.)On the other hand, if you have a feeling there is no way these two people will get along, trust your instincts and know its OK to say no. Instead, tell your friend that you would be happy to introduce her to somebody else you know who may be a better fit. Or, pass along her resume, but leave it up to your colleague to pursue a meeting.2. Your Friend Wants You to Do Things for FreeWhether youve working at a perk-filled job (free concert tickets, heavily discounted furniture, an influential social media account, you name it), or youre just getting your own business off the ground, youve probably had a few friends ask you if they can just have stuff for free. And, while you may want to be kind, and subscribe to the philosophy that one or two giveaways here or there wont matter in the long run, they can start to add up in a hurry. (And I dont just mean financially.) Once you offer free swag to one friend, youll feel inclined to offer it to another, and another- creating a snowball effect. So, platzset a precedent early on with friends. Either determine a system that you feel comfortable with (and that makes sense for you), or kindly explain that at this time you simply cant. Blame it on your bottom line, or better yet, blame it on your companys policy. That said, another option is bartering. That way youre staying true to your own rules, but swapping services in a way that works for you and your friends. Remember, you worked hard to get where you are and your friends should respect that.3. Your Friend Wants to Work for YouHave you ever heard that you should only hire somebody you could fire? Telling your close buddy that hes out of a job can put a damper on your friendship, to say the least. Avoid that awful outcome entirely by telling your pal from the start that you value his friendship so highly that you dont want anything to jeopardize it. Per discounting your work, its helpful if you make a blanket policy so that your contact doesnt feel like its personal- and so you dont have to have this awkward conversation all the time. 4. Your Friend Wants You to Spend Your Money on His ProductsYour pals a little bit under quota in his tech companys abverkauf goals for the month- wo uld you mind asking your manager if he wants to purchase a new database organizing system? Or, your buddy needs to prove that his newsletter initiative works to increase sales- are you cool clicking through the links and buying something? Anything? It can be small. Please?On the opposite end of the spectrum, your best friends launching his own company and his ideas pretty awesome. And he wants to know if youd like to be an early investor. If you believe in the idea and want to provide financial support- great Just make sure you go through all the proper steps to give him the money. This is no time to be casual and just Venmo it over. Also recognize that many new companies fail, and theres a chance youll never see your investment again. Be realistic about the risks before you say yes to funding a new initiative It could put a strain on your finances- and your friendship.In both cases, if you cant (or dont want to) spend your money, offer to help out and show your support in a differe nt way. Perhaps you can volunteer, offer aufsteigen on your social media outlets, or spread the word to your contacts. Every little bit helps And if the other person gives you any grief (a.k.a., suggesting that a true friend would just open up his or her wallet), you may want to distance yourself for the time being.5. Your Friend Wants Professional Advice, All the TimeFriends are there to lend you an ear through just about anything. However, there is a point when you feel like you are offering more than friendly advice- like when your friend asks for your read on contracts (a.k.a., your legal services). If a close friend seems to rely on your feedback for every professional move and decision, you can start to feel like youre being taken advantage of. After all, youre her friend, not her life coach, and you dont want a friendship to ever feel one-sided. Next time she asks for expertise, respond with an offer to help her track down a reputable professional who can answer her questions . If that doesnt get the message across, go with a half-joke along the lines of, Sure, Ill give you my discounted family and friends rate. That usually drives the point home that youre typically paid for this kind of advice.And if hes constantly coming to you with general career questions? Well, in that case Ive found that a little confidence booster goes a long way. So, dont forget to remind him that hes intelligent, savvy, and capable of making great career decisions on his own Related Smart People Dont Let People spielblttchen Their Brain- They Call It Consulting and Charge AccordinglyYou love your friends. So, its only natural that you want to help them have wonderful and fulfilling lives and careers. But, you cant compromise and neglect your own needs and goals in order to constantly help them with theirs. Keep these tips in mind to maintain friendships that are beneficial and constructive- without becoming full-time jobsPhoto of friends talking courtesy of Shutterstock.