I had an interesting conversation this afternoon with a friend of mine who is currently working for me and we’re considering expanding his position and making it more of a full time role.

I have always loved working with family and friends and they have been my best source of help. I’ve had my sister working for me for over 3 years and have a joint venture with my father. I bought my office space with my mother and she uses one half of it. Also, most of my hires – for long term or short term projects – have all been friends that I’ve known for a while.

Here is why I love working with friends or family:

1) They Care

Friends and family don’t just think about themselves. They spend more time thinking about what you’re going through and how they can help the business. My team has had to stay late, take weekend time and work hard to finish projects on tight deadlines and they did so willingly because they wanted to see me succeed.

2) You Can Trust Them

Ever wonder if your staff is working hard when you’re not there? Are you able to give over responsibility of major projects to your team and trust that they will be able to perform? I’ve never had to worry about somebody not completing their tasks or following through on something they said they were going to do. As long as you treat them with respect and communicate they will grind tooth and nail to finish the project properly.

3) You Know What They Are Really Like

I’m not suggesting hiring all your friends. You know there are some people who work diligently and others who are slackers. You know who you could spend all night hanging out with and who you wouldn’t be able to stand for more than a couple of hours before they get on your nerves. In a job interview people are always on their best behavior so you can’t realy get to know them. You already know the true personalities of your friends and will be able to tell in advance if there is a potential to work together or not.

4) You Know What They Want

You never want to hire someone just because they need a job – regardless of if they are you friend or not. You always want people who are genuinely interested in the position you have available and want to learn from you. Think about your friends and family – do they ask about your business? Are they excited by it? If they’re not passionate about working in your business then don’t even think about hiring them.

5) They Will Tell You The Truth

Another great thing about friends and family is that they tell you the truth. Many employees are afraid of their boss and say things that they think he / she wants to hear. Nobody wants to hire “yes men” – people who only give you the good news and cover up the bad. Your friends and family know you and will be far more honest with important information which might be painful to hear but will only help grow your business.

6) They Are More Loyal

If you have a position where your friend or family member is genuinely involved in because you’ve followed the above steps then you’ll also have a much more loyal worker. You won’t have people taking other projects while at your office. They won’t leave the company at the first chance when someone comes and offers them higher pay. They’ll have your back and will be more committed to making your business a success than someone who you don’t have that kind of relationship with.

Considering all the above points, I’m also assuming that you are a fair boss and treat everyone with respect. If you’re a control freak who makes life hell for employees then you deserve to have them run out on you.

What do you think? Have you worked with friends or family? What was your experience?