Valuing Professional And Personal Relationships For A Successful Life
Valuing your professional and personal relationships and investing in them is the best way to increase your chance of success in life.
Often, when we talk about productivity, we dive right into systems, processes, and tools without really thinking about the people’s side of things.
Relationships and connections are important aspects of growing and developing in this world which is why I decided to write this blog post.
As a Mindset and Productivity Coach for perfectionists (and a recovered perfectionist myself), I know how easy it is to obsess with hard skills and objective success metrics instead of investing in quality meaningful connections with others.
Valuing your relationships with your romantic partner, friends, family, co-workers, mentors, community and professional networks can be the difference between remaining stuck and living your best life.
We are social beings and success doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
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What does it mean to value relationships?
When you value your relationships, you understand the significance these relationships have in your life, whether they are personal, professional or social.
You acknowledge that these relationships aren’t transactional, they are mutually beneficial and fundamental for your growth, wellbeing and success.
Valuing relationships means actually taking the time to recognise and appreciate the connections you have instead of taking them for granted.
Related Post: Start living a values-based life to be successful
Are you taking the people closest to you for granted?
- You put your own needs first
- You never initiate meetups or quality time
- You complain about them to other people
- You assume that they are okay without ever asking them
If you notice any of these signs with different people in your life, you may be taking the relationship you have with them for granted. Luckily, in this post, I will be going over some of the different ways you can show people that you care about them.
The benefits of personal relationships
There are SO MANY mental, physical and professional benefits to taking the time to value your relationships with others.
- Community: when you build multiple strong relationships with others, you’ll start to feel connected to a wider community. You can develop collaborations for projects and hobbies, make amazing friends and even meet your future husband/wife through the power of community.
- Better mental health: you’ll receive more emotional support from your most trusted connections which will reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
- Professional success: the saying ‘your network is your net worth’ couldn’t be more true when it comes to growing your professional career. A lot of the time it’s not about WHAT you know but rather WHO you know when it comes to climbing up the career ladder. Investing in developing quality professional relationships could result in finding yourself a mentor or learning about exclusive opportunities.
- Greater resilience: if you’re going through a rough time, having a network of supportive people will help you navigate through life’s challenges. I’m sure AT LEAST one person in your network would have gone through something similar or knows someone who has. Sharing this knowledge will make you feel less alone in the world when things get tough.
- Improved physical health: research has shown that positive relationships can lead to improved health, as social support is linked to lower blood pressure, reduced risk of chronic diseases and a longer life expectancy.
Types of relationships that will help you on your journey towards success
Personal relationships
Personal relationships are those connections that provide you with deep emotional support, companionship and a sense of belonging. They’re the relationships that you can be the most vulnerable in and (hopefully) feel safe enough to be your truest self with.
Here are some reasons why personal relationships will benefit you in your life:
Romantic relationships
Romantic relationships can be some of the most wholesome, fulfilling and rewarding relationships in the world.
They can provide you with a safe space for emotional connection, intimacy, love and understanding during challenging times. For many of us, our romantic partner is our biggest cheerleader when it comes to supporting our goals.
However, the downside is that an unhealthy or toxic relationship can be detrimental for your feelings of success and can completely derail your life trajectory. So be careful who you choose to settle down with!
Related Post: Importance of values in a relationship: Secrets of a happy life
Friends
Having good friends is a blessing in disguise. Friendships provide companionship, mutual support and guidance while also allowing you to debate different ideas and perspectives respectfully.
Family
Healthy relationships with your family members provide you with a strong foundational support system. For many of us, our family is a reliable and consistent source of support and stability providing us with unconditional love.
Studies have shown how important having a healthy family upbringing is in our ability to form and maintain healthy secure attachments in adulthood.
Community
Being part of a community is a beautiful thing. There are many different ways to join a community or create one yourself. For example, there are local neighbourhood groups, hobby groups, healing groups, and volunteering groups.
I’ve noticed that when I’ve made a conscious decision to get involved in community events, I have learnt so much more about what it means to be human and I know that sounds super cheesy but it’s true!
There’s something special about cracking jokes and building bonds with people you probably wouldn’t have gone out of your way to befriend. E.g. your elderly neighbour down the street. Being part of a community bridges the gap and helps you develop those connections through shared activities
Mental health support
I’ve included therapists and life coaches under the personal relationship section because as a client you learn how to develop a special therapeutic/coaching relationship through your sessions.
You may share deep things with your therapist/coach that you haven’t shared with anyone and you’ll learn how to build healthy coping strategies for managing all areas of your life.
Related Post: 7 easy ways for perfectionists to increase their self-awareness
Professional relationships
Professional relationships are those connections that facilitate career development, professional growth and business opportunities. So, you’re probably not necessarily going to share your deepest darkest secrets with them but you may share your limiting beliefs around your growth and ask for support.
Managers
Managers can be the difference between a good working environment and an absolutely terrible toxic working environment. So when you find a good manager hold on to them dearly!
Maintaining a healthy relationship with your manager is a great way to get direction, feedback and support in your career progression within your company.
Coworkers
Investing time in building a solid relationship with your coworkers is a great idea and will making your working life so much better (and I say this as an introvert who still recoils at the phrase ‘team building exercise’).
When you have a positive relationship with your coworker you have more opportunities to collaborate and receive support on complicated projects. You’re job satisfaction and productivity will increase as a result of this positive work environment.
Mentors
Every successful person has a mentor
It is no secret that every successful person has a mentor to help them succeed. Mentors offer valuable guidance and advice based on their own career experiences.
I’ve personally gained SO MUCH knowledge and support from mentors in the past. Some of them in particular have played big roles in helping me secure amazing opportunities in my career. I can’t thank them enough!
Finding a mentor and making a conscious decision to invest in that professional relationship is one of the best things you can do if you want to speed up your journey up the career ladder.
Mentors are great because you can learn from their mistakes and get help on how to implement best practices in your career. Because at the end of the day, you don’t know what you don’t know.
Coaches
I’ve included coaches twice: first in the personal section and now in the professional section mainly because you can use coaches in many different areas of your life.
You can use business coaches, public speaking coaches, marketing coaches etc… There is a coach for everything!
Coaches offer specialised knowledge and strategies tailored toward your professional needs (whatever they are) and give you strategies to improve specific skills and competencies. They are great if you need help setting realistic goals and need accountability in your journey to achieving them.
Professional Networks
I know many people hate networking and will do anything to avoid participating in small talk with strangers however, the benefits of networking FAR outweigh the negatives.
I am an introvert and I LOVE LOVE LOVE minding my own business (literally!) so trust me when I say learning the art of networking changed my life. I have met so many interesting people just by attending industry events some of which have become my closest friends. I have also gained leads without having to sell my soul just by having a simple conversation.
So, if you’re like me and you dislike social media and want to get collaboration opportunities, I highly recommend you hop on MeetUp or Eventbrite to find local networking opportunities.
Strategies for developing and maintaining professional and personal relationships
- Non-Violent Communication and Boundaries:
- Practise active listening and empathetic communication
- Clearly express your needs and respect others’ boundaries to foster healthy, respectful interactions.
- I highly recommend you read the book on nonviolent communication to learn the subtle art of communicating effectively – it changed my life!
- Quality Time:
- Invest time in meaningful activities with those you care about
- Prioritise undistracted, face-to-face interactions to deepen connections
- Collaboration:
- Work together on projects and tasks, both personal and professional
- Engage in teamwork and mutual support to achieve common goals
- Respect:
- Show consideration for others’ opinions, feelings, and experiences
- Treat everyone with kindness and fairness, acknowledging their value
- Consistency:
- Be reliable and dependable in your relationships
- Regularly check in with people and maintain ongoing communication
Small things you can do to show people you care
- Perform unexpected acts of kindness such as leaving a thoughtful note or offering help with a task. You can check out the Random Acts of Kindness website for more inspiration
- Express gratitude for the people who show up regularly in your life
- Make an effort to remember important details about people in your life
- Give compliments and celebrate their small wins
How do you value your relationship with others?
Valuing relationships and showing people you care is a lot harder than it looks, especially because we are all so busy living our lives. It’s easy for connections to just drop off the radar never to be seen again.
Maybe it’s time to do an audit of your relationships…
I recommend you use these journal prompts to help you identify the ways you value your relationships:
- How do I show up for the people in my life?
- Do I listen actively and empathetically to others?
- How often do I express gratitude and appreciation for my relationships?
- Are there any relationships that need more attention or improvement?
Join the healing community
If you would like more comprehensive support, personalised guidance and accountability, I recommend you sign up for my 1:1 coaching.
As a Mindset and Productivity Coach for perfectionists, I will help you identify your limiting beliefs, and set REALISTIC goals using a mindful productivity system that is aligned with your personal values and stops you from feeling overwhelmed.
Remember, investing in yourself is one of the most valuable commitments you can make in life.
Book recommendations
- Lost Connections by Johann Hari
- Daring Greatly By Brené Brown
- Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn
- All About Love by Bell Hooks
- How to do the work by Nicole Lepera
- The Lonely City by Olivia Laing
- How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie
- Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B Rosenberg
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- 123 Affirmations For Growth Mindset and Success
- Importance of values in a relationship: Secrets of a happy life
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- The Truth About Recovery From Severe Burnout