The conversation is the relationship. It is such a simple five word sentence. Yet, the depth and applicability of this concept is powerful.
The quality of your conversations dictate the quality of your relationships. Think of all the relationships in your life. With those, imagine that you must put the quality of your conversations on a scale of 1 being most satisfying to 10 being least satisfying. Where would those conversations land?
Given all the relationships you may have on that scale, ask yourself:
- As a leader, what kind of conversations are you having? Are they developmental and supportive? Or skeptical and controlling?
- As a team member, what kind of conversations are you having? Are they collaborative and robust? Or superficial and frustrated?
- As a friend, what kind of conversations are you having? Are they thoughtful and compassionate? Or assumptive and insincere
- As an individual, what kind of conversations are you having with yourself? Are they encouraging and optimistic? Or critical and sabotaging?
This week’s tip is to scan and focus on two relationships in your life where you are having the least satisfying conversations. Is it with your partner? With your boss? With a team member? With your son?
If you want to make the relationships more fulfilling, you must start by improving the content and quality of your conversations.
Take them out to coffee. Schedule a lunch. Go somewhere that you can focus.
Tags: #Miscommunication, #Work Relationships
