It’s self-assessment time! Before we get too far into thinking about and discussing relationships, let’s see how we do on some key foundational elements of relationship-building.
Assess yourself on each of these elements:
Honesty: When you speak with others, how open are you? Do you share information about yourself that might reflect poorly on you? Are you comfortable acknowledging that you don’t know something, or do you bluff your way through as if you are knowledgeable?
WEAK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STRONG
Reliability: Can others count on you to follow through on your commitments?
WEAK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STRONG
Relating: When you are with others, do you listen attentively, seeking to understand others first? Or are you focused on being understood?
WEAK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STRONG
Empathy: Do you demonstrate your concern for others by doing what you can when someone needs help? Recognize that support may take many forms: standing up for someone, listening, taking action on another’s behalf, or just doing some small act of kindness.
WEAK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STRONG
Time: Are you consistent about investing time and energy into your most important relationships? Are you contributing to the health of your relationships, or are you taking, not giving? As John Maxwell says, in every relationship you can be a + or a – … which are you?
WEAK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STRONG
After rating yourself, spend a little time to summarize your thoughts on this exercise. Are you a plus (+) or a minus (-)? What did you learn that you can use to improve your approach to relationships?
This area of leadership is like all the others in that to do well here, one must have a certain level of self-awareness and operate in an intentional manner. As with the exercises that came before now, it’s important that you are really honest with yourself. If you are shallow in this area, it will be readily apparent.
“See” you on Wednesday!
