Friends Who Fail - How Long Do You Provide Professional References?

We've all got diversity in our sets of friends.  Different colors, shapes, genders, etc.

Oh yeah - one more item to add to the ways our friends are diverse.  Our friends have varying levels of professional capability and career success.  Some are rainmakers, some seem to be standing in the rain.  Some are players, some are spectators, which raises an interesting question. If you are in the position of being able to use your career level, title and professional clout to help a friend with a glowing professional reference, do you do that?

Yes?  Great, now on to the next question.  Let's say you've used your professional clout multiple times to push your friend over the top in a search process, only to have your friend crash and burn on each occasion.  When do you stop?  Do you keep recommending her, or do you draw the line and say that you love them, but you can no longer recommend them professionally?

Here's a recent public example.  Magic Johnson, NBA legend and successful post-career businessman, recently admitted publicly that he could no longer recommend Isiah Thomas, another former NBA great, who has crashed and burned repeatedly in post-career management roles with the Indiana Pacers, the CBA and the New York Knicks.

More on Magic's "I can't recommend you, but you're still my friend" from Bloomberg's Erik Matuszewski and Scott Soshnick:

Magic Johnson says he won't make the same mistake twice and recommend Isiah Thomas for front office or coaching jobs in the National Basketball Association.

Johnson five years ago told New York Knicks executives that they should hire Thomas, his good friend. Thomas, a Hall of Fame point guard, was fired as coach and president of the Knicks last year as the team suffered through its seventh straight losing season and was at the center of a sexual-harassment lawsuit won by a former team official.

"I couldn't recommend him again because he's failed a couple times now," Johnson, who won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio's "On the Ball" program airing Nov. 29. "So I would probably have to just pass on that one."

Deep stuff.  What's your approach?  And don't give me the "I'd provide a personal, rather than professional reference" stuff.  I'm a HR pro, I see through that like an X-Ray machine identifies a broken arm.  You're either behind them professionally or your not.  Make the call.

Part of me assumes the world would be a better place if Magic stood by his friend.  That said, the incredibly public failures in which Isiah has been involved and the public nature of the friendship create a fishbowl you can't escape from.

Aren't you glad your career shortcomings don't end up in the New York Post?

Comments

[Alan]

Kris,

I think what stands out to me in your post is not so much that Isiah did a bad job at running the Knicks organization, but that he had a sexual harassment claim against him. If I were in Magic Johnson's shoes, I would have done the same thing.

There needs to be accountability in a person's character - PERIOD! Once a person loses his character, then why would you want to give them a recommendation for any further leadership roles (except for a 12-step group). True, we are all human and make mistakes, but sexual harassment and just the way Isiah treated people in general was said to be lacking in many ways. This kind of behavior points back to the type of leadership shortfalls that we are trying to eliminate - not promote.

Magic can still be friends with Isiah if he chooses to, and he can choose to forgive him many times over for his negative behavior, but I think for Isiah to count on Magic as a reference to anything further makes no sense and only stands to produce a negative effect on Magic himself.

[GretchenA]

I think the answer on references is that you refer based on the skills and abilities of the person and what you know about them. That may not be a "personal reference" - it's someone who can accurately comment on your fit for a job. I was called last month about someone I worked with 7 years ago. I have no idea how this person's career has progressed, but I could talk to how we worked together then, whether or not I'd consider him if I was hiring today, and what impressions I had - which was what the hiring manager was looking for.

I think the key with references is not to get the generic "he's great" comment. You want to know more about this person and if they'd be a fit for the job. Magic may not recommend Isiah for another coaching job in the NBA, but the HR person should know that going in to the call. Instead, they should ask why Magic recommended him in the past, and if there are specific abilities that he brings. Setting aside the harassment issues, maybe he's great at player development, but not a game strategist. So you don't hire him as a coach next time, but you find another role that better fits his skills, and get Magic's take on that position.

And yes, I'm very glad my management failures don't make the NY Post!

[CJ]

I think of this like I think of referring family members. I want the best for them but would I actually put my name on the line knowing they would not do well?

Someone told me this concerning my credit a long time ago. You can give money, time, and anything else, but DON'T let others borrow your credit, you have worked too hard for it. I feel the same way about my professional name. If I definitly know someone will fail, I will not lend a professional reference. But I will take the chance on them once maybe twice.

I think this one probably hits everyone.

[Kris Dunn]

Alan - Good point, but Isiah's failures are many unrelated to the harassment charge. Check out the Pacers and CBA stops, which preceeded the Knicks fiasco. No wonder Magic's stepping back.

Gretchen - Like the take on finding the right fit. I guess once someone's failed on the big stage, the right is probably in a smaller job.

CJ - agree with the thoughts - have to protect your own reputation, but it's good to take a chance once or twice before you lock it down....

[Daria Steigman]

Hi Kris,

Friendship is not the same as business, and I believe you mix the two at your peril. I have friends I can work because we understand the different roles, and others where I know better than to hire them or have them as my client.

I agree with CJ: When you recommend someone for a job, you are expending your capital and putting your reputation on the line. Of course we should help our friends, but not blindly.

Best,
Daria