If You Have an Intimate Relationship . . .

with a client . . .

DO:

• Be open to evaluating its effect on your work performance
• Be sensitive to its impact on your relationships with others at work
• Be willing to talk about it with a trusted professional or friend
• Refer your client to another advisor, preferably not in your firm

DON'T:

• Assume that your ability to think clearly is intact
• Insist that this is your own private business with no effect on anyone else
• Sneak around and try to keep it a secret (you won't succeed)
• Make yourself a beneficiary in their will (don't even think about it!)

with a colleague . . .

DO:

• Be super-vigilant about treating all your co-workers equally and fairly
• Try to minimize contact at work
• Be open to feedback from trusted colleagues about your work performance and the effect on co-workers
• Be prepared to seriously contemplate one of you leaving the organization

DON'T:

• Accept or give special favors because of your relationshi
• Make excuses to get together
• Assume that your relationship is not affecting the climate at work
• Assume that you can keep your client's best interests in the forefront