Maintaining a relationship that last

Some of us may have heard of the story of a man who had pulled out a thorn from a lion’s paw he accidently met in the savannah. Some years later, both of them met once again in the Roman arena of death, the man against the lion, with the pack audience expecting a bloody duel. However the duel did not happen as the lion recognized the man who had helped it before and the man was left unhurt. The story related here is one example of a relationship.

A relationship can be between human, between animals and between human and animals. Previously, blood relationship used to be a powerful relationship, however nowadays misunderstanding between brothers and kinship may even result in bad blood. Nowadays, relationship may be forged by anyone to derive beneficial returns to the participants, ideally generating mutual benefits. The benefits may even extend to other surrounding parties. Therefore a relationship can be a bond of material or emotional interdependencies.

Merriam Webster < http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relationship> defined Relationship as follows:
1: the state of being related or interrelated
2: the relation connecting or binding participants in a relationship: as a: kinship b: a specific instance or type of kinship
3 a: a state of affairs existing between those having relations or dealings b: a romantic or passionate attachment

For the purpose of my blog post, I will be deliberating relationship based on the second definition i.e. “the relation connecting or binding participants in a relationship”. The words "connecting" or "binding" mentioned here connote a lasting time frame. A time frame can be as long as the relationship is beneficial to both parties. This may even go through period of connection, disconnection and reconnection. During the period of disconnection, memories of a good relationship certainly would strengthen the relationship upon reconnection. It is therefore quite important during the period of connection; both parties develop more binding interdependencies.

The benefits yield from a relationship may be immediate or over a period of time. Hence patience is required in ensuring a relationship that is sustainable and progressive towards the desired goal. The benefits may be in the form of material gain or emotional support. Both of these are equally important and to derive both benefits in a relationship is very much desired.

Reflecting this in a professional career, the importance of relationship cannot be overly under rated. However, relationship in a professional career should also be similarly professional in nature. It shall also be lasting through a period of connection, disconnection and reconnection. However professional relationship may tend to border along the line of hypocrisy and distrust. The most advisable reaction is to accept the relationship at that level and continue to be vigilant.

In my professional experience, I have had staff who treasure the value of relationship and I have also had staff who are otherwise. I have shared these in my previous postings as follows:

• Resignation and Attrition
• A difficult decision
• Farewell to a friend
• Thank you note from me...
• Farewell to Alex, all the best

Recently in my previous capacity as the Expatriate Transaction Services Manager, I have approved the mobilization of several of my team members out of the team to provide them progression opportunity. Out of the many, except for one, most of them had maintained a good professional working relationship until the end.

To conclude, relationship is a matter of social interdependencies reality. The synergy and dynamism in a relationship would create a symbiotic energy in enhancing key performance in an organization. One of the factors normally assessed during selection process would be the ability to work in a group which ultimately points to an ability to establish relationship. Quite evidently, relationship is very important in a professional career.