This is a tricky subject. It sort of goes along the lines of “it’s who you know, not what you know.” While this saying holds, it is not the entire picture. We encourage building personal relationships in the professional arena, after all, these relationships assist in the foundation of your business successes.

Many in the agricultural industries and other industries for that matter use the “good ole’ boy system.” While this is beneficial in many regards, we must be careful. We must provide the best work for our clients, for our consumers, and our partners.

How can we as businessmen and women separate our role as a friend from a professional? The answer in short is, you can’t. We are already established in these relationships but what we should be asking is, “how can we be transparent in our roles at the moment?” Each situation will vary from the next, but being open about what hat you are wearing at the moment is something that can be controlled.

Another thing to consider is keeping emotion out of the situation. Whether two friends are bidding for the same contract or using each other as a referral. It is imperative to keep the emotions of professionalism and personal separate at all times. You may have to take a step back if emotions get in the way until they are controlled.

We have had the pleasure of getting to know people from all over the world. Professionally, we have learned from all these people and some of them have become clients and friends. When you build relationships, you also build trust.

Treat everyone you meet with respect, courtesy, and consideration. This will go a long way in building friendships and your business relationships. Because in doing this, you are building yourself, your reputation and your character. The way we handle tense situations will reflect directly back on us.

And remember, in every situation, good or bad, there is a lesson that can be learned. If you have unsuccessfully been able to blend professional relationships with personal ones, take some time to reflect and make note of what worked and what did not. Relationships that effectively manage these tensions are the ones that tend to thrive the longest.