Relationship Areas
Self
If you want to be a powerful connector and proactively build bridges between yourself and others, it is crucial to first develop an understanding of yourself. Your behaviors, tendencies, prejudices, skills, perspectives, and emotions are all facets of the “self” that make you uniquely you and impact how you interact with the world. Research indicates that the better we understand ourselves, the more we understand “the intentions and beliefs of other people”—a key skill in developing effective relationships that lead to success.
How can you develop a more profound understanding of yourself?
It takes time, self-reflection, study of different ideas, and experimentation to take a deep dive into the emotional, spiritual, and mental aspects of the self. It’s a journey—an ongoing process that will shift and adapt as you grow and evolve.
A key aspect of the journey is embracing your “imperfect me.” Today, social media often shows the most put-together, joyful sides of people, which sets unrealistic expectations and can cause extreme dissatisfaction or anxiety. Impostor syndrome abounds and stymies our steps toward success. Part of our journey involves rejecting those images of perfection and learning to forgive our flaws and celebrate our unique, imperfect selves.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or frightened by the prospect of exploring your internal world, that’s normal! Take comfort in knowing you don’t have to undertake this journey on your own. One-on-one coaching can help alleviate some of the burden and get you pointed in the right direction. I offer such coaching, and would love to chat with you about how I can help.
NOTE: If you’ve suffered from past traumas, as I have, you may want to consider addressing that with therapy or other methods to help you move past them (if you have not already). If you want to start on your own, Mastin’ Kipp’s 5 Stages of Healing Emotional Trauma may be useful.
Personal
Healthy personal relationships can buoy us, give us strength, and bolster our emotional and mental well-being. When we’re in mutually respectful relationships, we benefit from support, a listening ear, and fruitful communication. However, when those personal relationships are damaged or, worse, toxic, they can negatively affect every aspect of our lives.
Most people juggle multiple personal relationships, whether with a spouse, children, parents, extended family, or friends. When one or more of these relationships is off-kilter, it can affect the balance of your entire world. It may become tough to concentrate at work, enjoy the activities you once loved, or quiet anxious thoughts.
One of the toughest parts of repairing a strained relationship (or overhauling a damaged one) is to confront it head-on and proactively seek improvement. This can be a terrifying task, especially if emotional or physical abuse is involved.
Take heart! You are strong enough to get through this. A certified mediator can help you turn difficult relationships into positive, affirming ones. Let me help.
Work
In my career, I’ve observed the very different ways in which people approach work. Some simply want a pleasant office environment, in which they can show up, do their work, and receive their paycheck. Others are purpose-driven and want to make big, sweeping changes that create a positive impact. Still others are determined to climb the ladder and earn leadership roles.
No matter one’s professional goals, relationships play a crucial role in achieving them.
Our workplace connections can provide opportunities to grow, improve, and thrive. Or, they can hold us back, make us angry or uncomfortable, or create a downright miserable environment.
Though workplaces are often an ecosystem—a network of connections among colleagues, supervisors, staff, and clients—it is possible to take control of your professional relationships and work on improving them. Sometimes you have to foster positive relationships with your superiors by “managing up,” or get better results from your colleagues by “managing sideways.” But even as a team leader, it often takes an intentional approach to get the results you want from your staff.
I have extensive management (up, down, and sideways!) and leadership experience. Let me be your workplace guide and help you find your success.