Author(s): Masud Khawaja
Relationships are important for true success in one’s life. Without relationships in our increasingly connected world, one may fall behind. Organizations that do not recognize the need for deep, trust-based relationships are doomed. This study collected primary data using unstructured interviews of senior executives. They were asked questions about how relationships played an important role in their professional lives. From that data, themes were generated, and secondary data was gathered to fit a framework to each of those themes. The first theme relates to the need for successful relationships to share benefits. Mutual dependence in a relationship can translate into beneficial outcomes for an organization. The next theme describes how one must invest in relationships to keep them strong. Theme three may act as a warning, since it indicates that, if no better alternatives exist, relationships may be formed even to the detriment of the suitor. Theme four and five center around trust. Trust is essential for a relationship to survive and when parties trust each other they are sure of the other’s motivation. It is vitally important for organizations to consider the relationships around them. Relationships between employees can boost productivity if beneficial and decrease it if toxic. Strong relationships at an interorganizational level can yield positive benefits for all parties. Organizations and management that show employees they are cared for will find those individuals more committed. Customers that trust a business are more likely to remain loyal, hence effort must be made to show that the organization is trustworthy. Relationships are the lifeblood of individuals and organizations; it is a fatal error to neglect them in either sphere.