In a bind...

Made the mistake of not keeping professional boundaries by becoming friends with someone in my department. Problem is they continually attract drama outside of work (which we're both far too old for). I'm slowly trying to distance myself from them but an exit strategy is hard to come up with when I work with them directly everyday and they've gotten in the habit of using me as their go-to person when it all hits the fan...

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Toughen up

Jul 18, 2019 at 4:02pm

I was in the same bind. I distanced myself, but not that slowly. I ripped the bandaid off.They moved on to someone else in our department. I'm now the outside, but I prefer that than being the limp noodle I became.

If the drama

Jul 18, 2019 at 6:02pm

Is outside of work, what are you worried about?

Be the better person

Jul 19, 2019 at 11:01am

Compassionately take them aside, apologize for misrepresenting yourself (which is why they probably come to you as a friend), gently clarify the type of relationship it is to be, and explain that your life is too complicated to take on anyone else's personal issues. Allow them to grieve and from now on keep things professional.
Honesty is the best policy, and accountability is a must. Next time don't blur the lines if you aren't prepared to be all in. I always keep my personal and professional separate to avoid stuff like this.

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