Business, family, and social activities all rely on relationships. We all have strained relationships. In some cases, they may even seem irretrievably broken. Relationship problems can devastate the home. The toll is no less heavy when there are problems between coworkers or colleagues. Just as in our personal lives, improving our relationships can yield marked and, in some cases, unforeseen improvement in the workplace. Even better, improving a relationship in one arena can translate into benefits across the board.
Disagreement Can Be Productive
Disagreements are not bad. In fact, disagreements with healthy discussion can yield great benefits. When we let disagreements or personal slights develop into damaged relationships, however, we invite an escalation of the tensions. There are always two sides to a disagreement. This does not always mean that both parties are correct. But it may well be true that neither party is completely wrong.
It is human nature to believe that the other person is at fault. Your thoughts and viewpoints may seem unassailable and brilliant—at least to you. There are two sides to the coin. We need to make the effort to see the other side of the issue. Even if we do not agree with it, the effort to consider it is important. Always remember that you are the common element in all of your strained relationships.
Healing Strained Relationships
Much more important than who is right and who is wrong, is to heal the relationship. We must not sacrifice our values and we shouldn’t agree with things we know to be wrong. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t stop us from working to reconcile the differences and heal the relationship.
Fractured relationships at work create unnecessary tension, making the risk of burnout climb even more rapidly. These problems undermine job performance. The patient, practice, physician, and staff can all suffer because of these tensions. See our cases studies, PT Manages the Practice Without Building Relationships and BY and the Performance Reviews.
Take steps to heal broken the relationship. In fact, take the first step. Don’t wait on the other person to make the first gesture— it may be a long wait. Just beginning the process can help ease your burdens even when the relationship does not improve.
In this era, it is as simple as sending an email or a text message. This does need to be well thought out. Just don’t send a thoughtless message. Make sure it is meaningful and addresses the problems that have arisen or at least your interest in resolving them. If at all possible, call the person or meet with them in person. This allows them to see that you truly mean that you want to heal the relationship.
It takes real effort, and it can be hard; but simply take the first step and see where it leads. If we lay aside enough of these burdens, perhaps the day will become that much easier.
The best part of this is that it is free. Except for a little effort.
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