HYDERABAD: A few days ago, Sunil Shetty, founder and CEO of askmentor.com, was in a conference call with his 24-year-old co-founder and a Mumbai-based investor over a business deal. While the investor and the former were exchanging pleasantries and got talking beyond business initially, the 24-year old knew exactly where to butt in and come straight to the point about the deal. As Friendship Day beckons this weekend, we realise, demarcations between friendship and business, have only gotten specific over the years.
From his experience of mentoring many business firms in two years, Sunil adds that business partners of this generation know where and when to talk profession and not extend it beyond office. Cutting out diplomacy, he says is commonplace now. Govind Kavaturi from Kairos Society (that guides businesses) adds, “There's more transparency in the way people deal with businesses now. Even when decisions are to be taken, it's not only the partners anymore, there's a structured group like the West that's equally involved in the process. This happens, when a partner knows the other (s) equally well, have spent a lot of time knowing each other and can deal with the profits and hardships ably. It doesn't work when two friends just have an overnight idea and start a business.”
One solid reason why friends being partners in a firm works, is the common goals they share as they run it. “When there's a conflict of opinion, we're reminded of what we are here for and work towards the best interests of the company. No one shall take each other for granted. No doubt that there'll be certain amount of flexibility as we work, given we know our strengths and weaknesses beforehand,” reveals Rohini who co-runs Kitki (a board game) with her better half Pramod.
Things get easier in companies, when the friends are clear on who does what; that's precisely the reason behind the success story of iAugmentor, an education portal. Childhood buddies Sarvagya, Pratik and their other friend knew exactly what they were bringing on to the table. “Pratik is the go-to guy in the marketing and the sales arena, while I deal with anything related to technology. But for the fact that one guy is married and I'm not, hardly anything has changed between us over the four years we've run the company. We may differ over a professional decision on occasion but a couple of hours later, we end up sitting in each other's homes and have a glass of wine,” states Sarvagya. Pratik summarises: “We realise we complement each other. Whatever move we take, will be a collective one. So, there's trust.”
Not all situations are rosy; growing instances of businesses and startups shutting shop within months. Rajive Dhawan, who runs three business firms, once had a near-awkward experience as he tried to help his friend in relation to an event. “Luckily, it only took us a few hours and days to move on with things. The equation between them needs to be very mature to produce results. They need to understand the difference of opinion, if it all the situation arises, is only professional and not personal. This only happens when one has an idea of both the better and darker shades of his/her friend. Sometimes, friendships work best when there's no business involved.” Govind gives us a timely reminder, “This is as good as a marriage. It’s not that you never fight with your bestie. It’s about how well you resolve the issue and stick onto each other.”
