The Wealth of Association
There’s an old African proverb that says “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This is simply because the people you surround yourself with are a good indicator of how far you will go and how much you can achieve.
Life is about relationships. The degree of your success in life will speak greatly to the quality of the relationships you’re in.
Building relationships with people at work, your peers, your friends and family is an integral part of how we progress in life and work. Relationships give meaning to our work and lives. The more relationships you have, the better. You never know when they will come in handy.
A recent review of 148 studies found that people with strong social relationships are 50% less likely to die prematurely. Similarly, in a study of over 100 people, researchers found that people who completed a stressful task experienced a faster recovery when they were reminded of people with whom they had strong relationships with. Those who were reminded of stressful relationships on the other hand, experienced even more stress and higher blood pressure.
Today, when I look at my life and evaluate it, I tell you, I am a product of good relationships. The relationships you create today, could connect you with the opportunities you need tomorrow. However, it takes a dedicated amount of time and energy to build good, strong, lasting relationships.
Maya Angelou did say; “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Here are three (3) tips that will help you build lasting relationships:
1. Connect with People of Similar Goals and Visions
“Every enterprise requires commitment to common goals and shared values. Without such commitment there is no enterprise; there is only a mob.” – Peter F. Drucker.
It is important to seek out people whom you share similar goals and values with. Are they honest, kind, passionate, motivated? How do they treat others? These people may not always share your point of view, but the shared values are a must. So, deliberately connect with people that share the same values with you.
2. Ensure the Relationship is Value Adding
How do you add value to a relationship? – I’ll say it’s filling in the gaps where the other is lacking.
When it comes to building relationships, you get what you give. “Bring a value exchange to people you’re connecting with, it enables deeper connections.
You must be willing to add value to the lives of the people you have a relationship with, just as you’re receiving from them.
3. Leverage Each Other’s Strengths
“To build a strong team you must see someone else’s strength as a complement to your weakness not a threat to your position or authority.” – Christine Caine.
The world today is about collaboration, so you must be deliberate to leverage each other’s strengths; building partnerships, sharing business ideas etc.
Moreover, one of the perks of building lasting relationships is that you can reach out to them whenever you need help. Is there an idea you need to discuss or a business you need to brainstorm? You’ll find out that there are people willing to work with you or connect you to the right opportunities.
Life’s greatest joy comes from the relationships you build and to build these relationships you do it deliberately. In fact, our existence is quite dependent upon our interaction with other individuals or groups of people. When you focus on the process of building relationships, you are creating life-long connections.
If you do that, I promise you, you will find out that you will enjoy your life much better, you will feel more fulfilled and life will be much more fun.
Remember, You Have Only One Life to Live, MAKE IT COUNT!
