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i mean you can also be a friend and give difficult feedback? In some ways that is what defines a truly good friend from an acquaintance is that they call you out and have those hard conversations.

yes it is harder being a manager in that situation, yes the friendship may not survive, but its not some insurmountable obstacle.

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Some people once tried to convince me "the harder the truth to tell, the truer the friend that tells it." Like you say, in some cases this may be true.

I have personally learned that acceptance of a harder truth is a privilege that has to be earned. I think it's more about trust than friendship, at least in the management context.

as the author mentions, inevitably you’ll be forced to fire your friend when it’s not your decision.

and that falls under "friendship might not survive" - imho don't manage people if you can't handle firing a friend

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