I've often said that I like posting here because it's a chance for a heeconomically challenged chap like meself to converse with me betters. It's hard to think of other similar opportunities for the two sides of divided Britain to be able to speak directly to one another and ask questions. So I'd like to enquire of the various business men and business ladies that we have on here about the question of business 'friendships' and how they work. What are the values involved? I'm honestly baffled by them and, like meaningless corporate speak, I can't work out how they operate. Can anyone shed any light? I put the word 'friendships' in inverted commas, because they're not like friends in the sense I always understood a friend. Even the dictionary says "a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection" in its definition. Affection for me, means sentiment and that infers loyalty and looking out for the other person. That's what friends are for, as all the songs say. But the business world seems to have given birth to a strange twisted mutant version of friendship. The people do business with each other, but at the same time they are "mates". Super backslapping chummy. Ha ha ha! I could understand it if it were ALL false, but it doesn't appear to be. These people genuinely seem to like each other. They invite each other to family events and things like stag weekends, trips abroad, Christmas parties and weddings. Like regular friends. But then something crops up in the business. Some little crisis. And all of a sudden one of the "mates" shitsallover the other one. Drops him like a potato. I've even had one tell me that he got called into a roasting meeting at the other one's company and they kept him there haranguing and questioning him for 3 hours without so much as offering a drink. I've seen this same thing happen with these business 'mates' over and over again during my time at various companies. The stabbing in the back. The betrayal. The dirty tricks. Horrible things to do to anyone. It's not usually just one way either. The offended party is often just as cruel and vindictive in their revenge against the offendee. So my question is, what do you do about the sentiment mentioned in the dictionary? Does it keep you awake at night afterwards? What do you do when your kids start asking after Uncle Zeezee, of who's family we used to see so much. Will he still be sending us flashy expensive birthday presents? I just can't fathom how you do it, me.
Clive, a typo in your header. You appear to have confused the commercial with the political. I am informed that the latter is the natural habitat of the chumocracy. As I write this, I’ve just had a psychic vision, like Daphne Moon used to, of an Islington sauna. An older, goat like gentleman is helping a lady, in fact no less than Lady Nugee, assemble her towelling. A second woman who, by her bearing is surely a minor aristocrat, Lady Diane, discreetly tugs her gown lower as she consults brochures for fabled public schools. A Liverpudlian man stands awkwardly nearby, underpants staunchly girding his loins, black socks smartly pulled up. How will these strangers cope with governing the colony which is Britain?
You just tell that "it turns out that Uncle Zeezee was a complete and utter *****r who cost daddy his job and is the reason you're not going to Disneyland this year so feel free to kick the sh*t out of his little son who goes to your school". Its a big Q to ask and everyone's answers will differ. For me there are 3 categories of business friendships and almost all relate to ex-work collegaues. My 400+ LinkedIn contacts fit into one of these 3 .... 1/ ex Work collegues who became mates and are unlikely to ever be of use from a work point of view but they are now just like your ex-school friends are. 2/ Those you got on well with at work, genuinely want to "keep in touch with" and they may be able to help you, you may be able to help them one day. 3/ Those who you have no intention of seeing socially but keep in touch with, for both your benefits, as you or they may be useful at work one day When you are genuinely still working with these guys and your career is influenced by them its more difficult to be true friends. I always avoid socializing with boss or subordinate, but its easier with peers. Entertaining your boss for dinner must be a nightmare. My wife was very good friends with her CEO boss and his wife from previous workplaces. Suddenly her boss joined her organisation and she refuses to invite them round but goes to their BBQs etc with other staff. Doesn't want to be seen as politically trying to play the game.
In a nutshell, Clive doesn't understand the business equivalent of someone's best mate shagging their bird/bloke and then there being a huge falling out between the former mates afterwards.
