By Chaniga Vorasarun

Posted June 16, 2009

[Excerpt]

New ways to think about the dilemma of being a friendly boss.

Don't Protect Underperforming Workers--Be Fair

Drawing the line between personal and professional friendship is easier said than done for most. If an employee comes to a boss with a genuine problem, it is only natural to want to help. But because a boss must monitor and evaluate employees, personal relationships can muddy the waters.

When under-performing employees are not held accountable for poor work--especially if other employees have seen the boss being sociable with that person--it can lead to accusations of favoritism. "Often everyone can see that someone is not performing well, but if that person is protected, it can erode morale across the department," says Susan Battley, Ph.D., leadership psychologist and author of Coached to Lead.

Read the full article here.