Monday, September 08, 2008 Balancing work & friendship By May April M. Jimenea
Elizabeth’s table was a little messy with all the papers waiting to be signed by her.
As chief of staff of Governor Gwen Garcia, Elizabeth “Bess” Francia coordinates with the different departments of the Cebu Provincial Government.
Bess, who is in her early 50s and a single mom with a daughter, is a good friend and a former classmate of Gov. Gwen Garcia. She and Gov. Gwen were classmates at St. Theresa’s College (STC) Cebu from preparatory school all the way to high school.
After graduation, they went separate ways, going to different schools; she stayed in STC while Gwen went to study at Universtiy of the Philippines.
Bess graduated from STC with an AB in Mathematics degree. After graduation, she joined San Miguel Corporation where she had a successful career spanning 20.
years, rising from the ranks as a clerk in 1977 and on to being the logistics and planning manager for the Visayas and Mindanao for the San Miguel Foods Inc.
After San Miguel, Bess ventured into the food business, and opened a small, cozy cafe, The Country Kitchen, in North Road, Mandaue.
She stopped operating the cafe in 2003 to spend more time with her then ailing mother. Her mother died in 2005.
It was then that her former classmate and mutual friend Gwen (who had assumed office in July 2004), asked Bess if she was interested to work in government, specifically in the Office of the Governor.
Bess’ acceptance of the job put her and the governor’s friendship back on track.
Being a good friend, Bess usually gives advice to the governor. Bess said that when she gives advice as a friend, it is on a more personal basis but when she gives advice as chief of staff, many factors are to be considered.
Bess thinks that friendship really helps in work because friends tend to think on the same plane.
“Sometimes there will be some discussions and I will say something, and she will say ‘okay good, you got it,’ or I will say something and she’ll say ‘oops, that’s exactly what I wanted’,” Bess narrated.
Misunderstandings at the work scene cannot be avoided. “Sometimes there are things that you do which may not be to her liking,” Bess said. But she does not allow it to affect her work and the two of them always work it out.
So how does Bess feel about having a good friend as a boss?
“It’s alright; I don’t see any problems,” Bess answered.
When asked about balancing friendship and professionalism, she said: “When you’re at work, you should always be professional.
“You should never let your friendship overshadow what you need to do at work, what you need to do as a professional, because once too much friendship sinks in, then you would tend to take things for granted.
“Do not lose focus on what you need to do to be able to do well, if not, excel in the job at hand.”
Professionalism and work may not be on the same plane, but it can survive with the right balance of friendship in the work atmosphere.
As Bess said: “Be professional, but outside of that you can have a lot of fun together. The governor is a lot of fun to be with.”
