8 Pillars of Quality Relationships

I once spoke to a group of 200 college students and asked their definition of “a relationship.” Rapid-fire answers bounced off the walls (friend, family, lover, client, mentor). Some responses included positive words like trusted, romantic, or profitable. Others were negative, such as destructive, codependent, or counterproductive.

Equally insightful were questions like, “Which relationships are most important and how do we prioritize them? How many people can we rely on at 3:00 a.m.? And can they rely on us?”

Clearly, definitions vary. We were all influenced in a unique way by parents and siblings, peers and partners, clients and co-workers, and social or business experiences. Along the way, we learned that quality relationships take time and there are no short cuts. But there is a common thread to quality.

Over 20 years, I conducted surveys that included men and women (ages 16 to 95) in over 40 countries and 100 professions. The primary question on personal and professional relationships included: “What’s the Secret to a ‘Quality‘ Long-Term Relationship?” It never ceased to amaze me how similar the response was.

Here are the TOP 8 pillars of highly successful business partners, winning teams, and the happiest couples:

Fun & laughter
Mutual respect
Common values
Trust and loyalty
Selfless listening
Honest communication
Shared passion & purpose
Commitment and consistency

Consider the most important people in your life. Friends? Clients? The barista in a coffee shop perhaps? The partner in your office? The person you’re sharing a pillow with right now?

If your relationship needs a booster shot, double the dose of your 8 pillars. This is one magic elixir where excess is a good thing.

 

This blog is from a chapter section in…

The 4 Essentials of Entrepreneurial Thinking

Essential 2, Strategy 3 – Relationships & Networking