Create a set of committed relationships to help navigate your
way through complexity in a rapidly changing, information-saturated world
We all know that we find ourselves in an incredibly turbulent, complex, rapidly changing and information-saturated world. Intuitively, we understand that our ability to navigate these turbulent waters is the single biggest challenge we will face for the balance of our careers.
Because these times are unprecedented, we need to intentionally create some mechanisms to help us. If we’re smart and intentional, we can build some routines, attitudes and competencies into our personal lives and into our businesses culture that will help us to survive and thrive, even in these unprecedented times.
In earlier articles in this series, I proposed we intentionally build ‘sails’ into our routines – those habits, attitudes and processes that power us forward. At the same time that we focus on energy and forward movement, we need to intentionally build ‘keels’ into our lives and corporate cultures. Keels are those principles, practices and beliefs that hold us down and keep us on course. Like the sails and keel on a sailboat, the dynamic tension between these two opposing forces empowers us to act at our optimum.
So far, we have examined these sails:
· An acceptance of personal responsibility.
· An attitude of openness
· A propensity to take risks.
· A focus on strengths
We’ve also looked at these keels:
· An articulated vision or purpose
· The discipline of regular reflecting and planning.
· The discipline of rational thinking.
In this article, we’ll look at the next ‘keel,’ A set of committed relationships.
I understand that, in many ways, I’m preaching to the choir. I would guess that almost every reader understands the importance of committed relationships in his /her life, as well as mutual respect and loyalty from business colleagues. Consider this an affirmation and a further exploration of the rational.
The lockdowns brought on by the Covid crises have taught us the importance of live, people to people contact. We all witnessed the impact of being separated from one’s loved ones. Sadness, loneliness bound up in emotional dryness and spiritual withering. In fact, many people risked their own lives to avoid social isolation.
The proliferation of social media teaches us another lesson about our hunger for human interaction. Just the number of subscribers alone is testimony to the need for social interaction. It seems like an entire generation defines their personal value based on the ebb and flow of the opinions of faceless and nameless ‘friends.”
At the same time, it is worth noting the most drastic punishment in our prison systems is solitary isolation.
And it was the temporary separation from his father that gave Christ the greatest agony, reflected in his dying words, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 125:34, NIV)
With all that as background, the point I am making is much narrower and sharply focused than that. To successfully navigate these turbulent waters., we need to intentionally create a set of committed relationships. I’m not talking about hundreds of followers or friends here, I’m talking about a handful of people, or maybe just one, that are so committed to you, them, that you know, without doubt or hesitation, that they will be with you, and you with them, no matter what.
Typically, this includes your spouse, your parents, and your adult children. There may be a sibling, or an exceptionally close friend.
While you may have great relationships with a larger group of friends, neighbors and coworkers, the kind of committed relationships that will help see you through turbulent times are those handful of people who are on your side, no matter what.
The thesaurus helps to understand what this looks like with tits list of synonyms: Dedicated, loyal, devoted, staunch, steadfast, unswerving and faithful.
PWA-16
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