Why your relationships will be tested this year

Reading the weather warnings current for Australia the other day really made me realise what a harsh country we live in. Not many countries would have fire and flood warnings across all their states. I wouldn’t swap it for anywhere else though.

The economic climate shows similarly signs of it being a tough year, although fortunately there aren’t any ‘severe’ warnings out there. The last few years have been similarly tough, in fact, since the GFC of 2008 the business environment has been challenging. During this time many individuals have faced difficulties, whether it being as severe as being retrenched or needing help with their job. Many of us have called in favours from people we know such as asking for advice, seeking leads for job opportunities, or sharing leads.

The challenge I see for the year ahead is that many individuals have used up a great deal of social capital, that is, the goodwill in their networks. And many people are going to need more help in the year ahead which will test the strength of the relationships we have with people. This doesn’t mean don’t ask, in fact, you don’t know the strength of a relationship until it is strained, but be conscious you don’t push it too far.

My advice is to redouble your efforts of what you put into your relationships. We all have something to give – advice, ideas, contacts, leads, content, emotional support – and now is the time to give more. Who you give to won’t be exactly who you’ll receive from, but the law of abundance works in mysterious ways. The more you give the more you’ll get back…you just don’t know when, from whom, or how. That’s part of the enjoyment of our working life.