by Michelle Neujahr at Developing Excellence
"Relationships are all there is. Everything in the universe only exists because it is in relationship to everything else. Nothing exists in isolation. We have to stop pretending we are individuals that can go it alone."
Margaret Wheatley
Here are some tips for managing the relationships in our lives.
Relationships are all we have. They are critical. Our personal and professional lives can not be separate - what happens in one flows into the other. If we are in unhealthy relationships in our personal life it WILL affect out business. Self management means I look at my life as a whole – both personally and professionally.
Surround yourself with the right people. Remove the negative people in your life and surround yourself with inspirational people - people who encourage you to go after your dreams. We become like the people we hang around with.
Be accountable. We all need others to help us along the way. We do not make this journey alone or without help. Ask others for help. Ask others to help keep you accountable. Being an entrepreneur is fun but it becomes really hard work if we try to do it alone.
Have a mentor. Find someone who is where you want to be and ask them to mentor you. Learning from someone who is where you want to go is essential.
Be a mentor. Giving back and teaching others is life giving. If we do not give away what we have our growth is stunted. To continue developing and growing we need to share what we have with others.
Communicate your needs. Managing relationships is tough - it is even tougher if I expect others to read my mind I must honestly communicate my needs to those closest to me.
Be open to new relationships. Bringing new people into our lives is important. The more open we are to people, the more we can learn and grow from others. Keep your circle wide and your relationships free from judgements.
Realize that our relationship with our self is an important piece. In order to be in healthy relationships and have a healthy business, I need to be healthy myself.
Ask for what you need. Others can not read your mind. Asking for what we need is honoring to ourselves and others. And it gives others permission to ask for what they need.
Be willing to do the tough stuff. Relationships can be hard work. Being willing to say tough things, deal with hard emotions and go the distance in our relationships is critical if we are to live in functional relationships.
Take time for people. Leave the office, shut off your computer and take time to connect - really connect with the people you love.
Be a cheerleader! positive energy is contagious. Take time each day to make a difference in someone else's life. This habit will help you to feel good about yourself and in the long run this will grow your business.
