This episode takes on a question that gets leaders into trouble more than they admit: should you be friends with the people you supervise? We break down why the answer is almost always no. Not because leaders should be distant or cold, but because friendship blurs the boundaries that make accountability, trust, and fairness possible.

We walk through the real risks leaders face when they try to be “one of the crew,” including favoritism, uneven expectations, compromised decision-making, and the pressure it puts on everyone involved. We also talk about how to build strong, genuine relationships with your team without sliding into friendship territory.

This conversation is direct, honest, and rooted in experience from both inside and outside traditional leadership roles. If you’ve ever struggled to balance connection with authority or wondered where the line really is, this episode will give you a clear, practical framework for navigating it.