Opportunities Potential Correlation to Relationships

How do you manage your relationships at work or associated with work?  If you think about it everyone you come in contact with is a future potential opportunity.

When I reflect back over the last 10 - 15 years, I recognized that my merits, while a big contributing factor, weren’t the only factor to my achieving the next promotion, the next project, role, new job, new partner, collaborator and new client.  My strong work and personal relationships opened up doors and sometimes were the biggest contributing factor to my accomplishments.

My definition of a strong relationship is one that has mutual respect, mutual goals, respect for one’s differing goals, integrity and trust, and the ability to have the difficult authentic conversations with each other.  Each person in the relationship needs to feel they give as much as they get and where a shared experience has demonstrated the supportive nature for one another.

 I challenge you to think strategically about your relationships , the ones that are simple and need no effort, as well as, the more complex ones.  Think about relationships with prior managers, peers and how you can build, maintain and develop them.  Think about those relationships that need repairing which can potentially lead to building an even stronger relationship.  All these relationships may lead you to your next future opportunity.