Dr. Greer: Trying to be buddy-buddy with your employees does not work and undermines the chain of command. The key is to set expectations when you hire someone, and make sure the employee knows at the onset that they work for you. Keeping a separate boundary between you, as the employer, and your employee is crucial. Otherwise, many problems can develop that can be disruptive to both you and your practice. This does not mean you cannot act in a friendly manner toward your employees and to give encouragement when needed. If a true friendship has already developed, then I would remind her that she works for me and that she needs to adhere to certain items in order to keep our practice running smoothly. I would have a manager join the meeting to underscore the importance of the employer–employee relationship.
Ms. Selby Long
Ms. Selby Long: A boss can’t be friends with a direct report in the same way that you can be friends with someone who isn’t your direct report. In this case, I would say to Shelley, “Our working relationship, your success here and the success of the practice are all important to me. I know they are to you, too. I want to share something that has been concerning me.” If you’re getting non-verbal cues that she is concerned or uncomfortable, say, “Would you be open to hearing some feedback?” to help put the employee more at ease.
