It was a phrase popularised by the film The Godfather. Basically the needs of the business trump friendship. Does that mean it’s better to keep the two separate business and friendships? That way you won’t be forced to disappoint or in the case of the Godfather assassinate a friend. But an effective working relationship especially at the top of organisation is often close and intense.

Their friendship was touted as the foundation stone guaranteeing success. Close both in their vision and personal relationship. They spent most of the day, most days, in each other’s company and then rang each other up after work to talk for hours.They reinforced each other’s views and shared a contempt for the opinions of other people.

For a time they were extremely successful. Then one moved to head up another organisation and they never spoke to each other again. I am referring to Brain Clough and Peter Taylor very successful together at Derby and Nottingham but I could have been referring to any close relationship between two like minded people leading an organisation.

Whilst it is important to have a good working relation between people at the top of the organisation, a shared vision, a common outlook it is not necessary or desirable  to be close friends out side of work, in fact a tight friendship may exclude others and contribute to neither seeking or valuing the views of others.

This is ultimately very damaging to the organisation. So whilst the shared dream and the intensity of the job may mean a lot of time together, a lot of exchanging thoughts and ideas, often outside of the work setting, it should not be exclusive. And at some point there will be a difficult and painful choice to be made and one will have to leave for the good of the organisation.

 The chair of the board and the chief executive are a powerful alliance, together they can be very effective but however close they are one day the chair may have to sack the chief executive but it won’t be personal.