Thoughts on: Relationships – Chuck Morris

THOUGHTS ON: Relationships

By Chuck Morris

“I speak to everyone the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.”

~Albert Einstein

Good relationships cause us to be successful in our everyday life and certainly in our business life. The better the relationship, the better the results you may achieve at whatever it is you are trying to accomplish.

After years of building relationships with others, those with whom I have worked or done business, I have seen the benefits. Whether it is a more harmonious personal life or during business transactions, people tend to listen and work with you to help you accomplish your goals.

Case in point: recently we had a couple of projects that were nearing completion and we still had not received products from our vendors after waiting many, many weeks. The summer production for those companies always ramp up as many organizations (school districts in this case) order materials that must be in place for school opening come September. We were ready to ship, and still no product.

I sent out a request to some of my former colleagues, asking if they might have what we were waiting for and if so, could I acquire them. We will replace the inventory once our pieces arrived. I was humbled by the response. I had numerous people respond, willing to help. I was able to utilize that help and the end result was that we were able to ship with the equipment included. A couple of our buildings were delayed somewhat, but everything did get shipped.

So how do you get there? Listen. Watch. Ask. Learn. Practice. If you can follow those simple rules, it will come to you. It takes patience and it takes years to develop properly. You will see some change after a short period of time but the biggest benefit to you will appear down the road. The easiest way to do it is to make it part of your everyday life. Simple, right? Not for some. For those of you well on the way and seeing tangible results, there is something you can do to help others.

It is beneficial to take people under your wings and coach/mentor them on how to build relationships. Many really do not know how to deal with certain situations and oftentimes, find themselves in a bit of a pit, struggling to climb back out. Periodically they may be too aggressive in their approach or unsure how to respond when they are faced with a perceived affront from the person they are dealing with. Coaching and mentoring takes time but it works and it allows you to learn too, as the person you are helping learns from you. You will see things in a different light and perhaps that will allow a better understanding of certain aspects of what is going on.

Expose yourself to different circumstances that challenge you. Join Rotary or Kinsmen or the Lions Club as this will enable you to witness relationships on an entirely different level. Don’t be afraid to speak about topics that are of interest to you and maybe to your audience. Take the challenge! Even introverts can improve.

“In many ways, effective communication begins with mutual respect, communication that inspires, and encourages others to do their best.”

~ Zig Ziglar

Part of relationship-building is the fact you need to first understand yourself and know your shortcomings; then attempt to address them in an open and honest fashion – to yourself. Once you figure out how to do that, you are on your way. Nurture what you are building. Don’t let a bad day interfere with your progress. Remember, if you come across as angry or with an uncaring demeanour, all your work will suffer. It’s sort of like credibility, where it takes years to build and in a fit of foolishness, 10 seconds to destroy it!

Words are some of the most powerful tools you have. Use them wisely and with thought. Think back on that sage advice you received years ago and pull on some of your past experiences to develop the best approach while continuing to build those relationships. b