12 Days of Christmas Day 8: Gift of Relationships
Are you asleep at the wheel when it comes to your relationships?
I work in the banking, healthcare, and legal industries and I watch people lose themselves in their work and struggle to balance personal and professional relationships. This is not to say it doesn’t happen in other fields because I am sure it does. Anyone engaged in the service industry knows that building meaningful professional relationships is important, but it often results in neglect of personal ones. I can relate because I have been busy building my consulting business, which often entails putting in long hours and working tirelessly to build professional relationships.
We all strive to be successful in our careers and want to feel successful in our personal relationships. At times it can consume us, present various challenges, and feel overwhelming. Relationships are important for our success, personally and professionally. I am striving everyday to better affect others in a positive way in all my interactions.
Although these ways of relating to others appear obvious and simple, some may not practice them. Here are ways I have found to be successful in all my relationships:
Respect: Appreciate differences. Seek to understand each other without judgment.
Mutual Contributions: Understand that relationships require give and take.
Trust: My actions must match my words. I must do what I say I will do.
Sense of Humor: Laugh a lot!
Listen more than talk. This will be a later post! I am always striving to be a good listener!
Say Thank You: I make every effort to express, “I appreciate you” to others.
Apologize: Our relationships can't survive without apologies and we should convey them when appropriate. When I say “I am sorry” I also state what I am sorry for specifically.
Be genuine. Most of us can spot an impostor.
Life moves so fast and presents new opportunities and challenges each day. Life’s a journey to be always be appreciated.
Are you giving your best to all of your relationships?
Make a list of which people you will inspire, contact, mentor, coach, thank, express regret, or comfort. What are you waiting for? Let’s do this together.
May the gifts of joy, peace, and happiness be yours this holiday season.
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