Think of the best influencers in your life.

The best teachers you’ve had. The best leaders you’ve had. The best coworkers you’ve had.

A commonality between them is probably their emphasis on relationships.

Maybe they put themselves in your shoes to help you with something.

Maybe they acknowledged something that you did well.

Maybe while they had a role to play, they took time to be compassionate and encouraging, something they didn’t necessarily have to do, but did anyway.

Relationships bring meaning to work and service. Without it, there’s just work and service.

While we should try to build good relationships with everyone, it’s not always easy to do. Relationships in general take communication, respect, listening, trust, and accountability (to name a few), but it’s a worthwhile endeavor.

Boss and employee – happiness, productivity, trust, belonging, sense of purpose.
Employee and employee – less conflict, low turnover, happier workplace, belonging, sense of purpose.

Not only do relationships fulfill the human need for belonging and provide a sense of purpose, but they create the best possible way to work and to live.