Blossoming Relationship

Building a business can be all consuming. It’s all too easy to find yourself working not only during the business day, but also booking meetings at night, opening the laptop on weekends, and letting work take over.

After all, if something is important, we make time for it! You must make time for important things, but you also must take care to know what is really important.

I avoid early morning “breakfast type meetings” except on rare occasions. Why? Because my first desire, while fresh and unpolluted by the day is to invest time with my wife. She is my business and life partner and COO of our various business interests. Her opinion is important to me.

We both strive each day to hit our goal of 10,000 steps. We’ve gotten into the habit of taking a morning walk together. What better way to start the day with her working toward 50-60% of that step goal? During those walks, we sometimes say very little – just enjoying the experience. Other times, lots of important issues are discussed.

Included in this blog is a picture of a bold blooming plant. It visually represents what we often experience during those morning walks. While shopping for plants, this particular flower called out to me “take me home”. My wife is the one who usually handles the plant selection.

This was a time I offered my opinion. She saw the wisdom and bought these blossoming plants.

Recently, a business owner called about dealing with a below par manager. His initial desire was to fire the person for poor performance. However, there was an emotional relationship. This manager had been with him from the beginning of the company. The company has grown many fold in the last few years. Sadly, the employee had remained anchored to the past “when everything was smaller.”

Have you ever had this experience?

I suggested he ask the manager “How do you see yourself contributing to the company’s growth over the next three years? Take a week, or so to reflect and come back to me with bullet points.”

When the manager comes back – listen carefully. Repeat your understanding of his points. Do not offer solutions! Ask “what does that mean to you?” if you want more clarity.

Before you leave, recap what you heard, then sleep on it overnight. One of two things will occur:

You uncover an opportunity to place this manager in a new role that utilizes his unique talents uncovered by answering the three year growth question, or
You honestly share what your vision is for the role he/she is covering now and discuss a reasonable time (month – six weeks) transition and release to industry.

Another example of blossoming relationships: I had a college intern who was very valuable in helping us think through the launch of Profit Picture®, the software I developed to help businesses see how they are doing at a glance.

He came to us in a cocoon. Over time as he entered those last few weeks before graduation it was obvious to me he was becoming a beautiful butterfly confident and assured of his newly acquired talents.

We had the three year growth discussion. In this scenario, I chose #2 – release to industry. Watching his progress and successes as reported on LinkedIn – it has been gratifying to both of us. He has blossomed into a vibrant young executive and valuable asset to his current employer.

Are your relationships blooming, both in your personal life and in your work? If not, that’s an area for improvement as your grow your business.

– Ron Schutz Author