Comments on: What Workplace Relationship Goals Have You Made? http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:03:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-637 Mary Jo Asmus Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:04:10 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-637 Joe, I think you're doing it right. If it is possible in your workplace, you might consider MBWA - "Management by Walking Around" during the workday. Stop by workstations, spend a few minutes asking how they are doing, what you/your organization could do better, etc. Best wishes! Joe, I think you’re doing it right. If it is possible in your workplace, you might consider MBWA – “Management by Walking Around” during the workday. Stop by workstations, spend a few minutes asking how they are doing, what you/your organization could do better, etc. Best wishes!

]]> By: Joe Bradshaw http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-636 Joe Bradshaw Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:04:50 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-636 Hi Mary Jo, In response to your question about strengthening relationships at work I have found the best way is to communicate with coworkers/bosses on a personal level during lunch or after work. This technique hasn't always worked however as some of the people I work with carry an opinion/philosophy that there is work life and home life and those two shouldn't mix as much as possible. What would you suggest as a better way to build communication and understanding with someone who wants to keep the work relationship formal? Joe Hi Mary Jo,

In response to your question about strengthening relationships at work I have found the best way is to communicate with coworkers/bosses on a personal level during lunch or after work.

This technique hasn’t always worked however as some of the people I work with carry an opinion/philosophy that there is work life and home life and those two shouldn’t mix as much as possible. What would you suggest as a better way to build communication and understanding with someone who wants to keep the work relationship formal?

Joe

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-635 Mary Jo Asmus Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:34:30 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-635 Dan - I love your addition ("Whom can I truly benefit this year and how?") as it is relationship - and (servant) leadership oriented. And the examples are spot on. Thanks for the additions! Dan – I love your addition (“Whom can I truly benefit this year and how?”) as it is relationship – and (servant) leadership oriented. And the examples are spot on. Thanks for the additions!

]]> By: Dan Mulhern http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-634 Dan Mulhern Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:10:52 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-634 Mary Jo, This is a great piece! We forget that tasks are accomplished through people. I might add one more thought-starter: Whom can I truly benefit this year and how? We often think of ourselves and our organizations as the places where work happens. But sometimes others provide us greater opportunities. Here's an extreme example: Being married to the Governor, I know she is in an extraordinary position to affect people's lives. I can do more by contributing to her - in fairly invisible ways - than I can do with "my" goals. Traci Fenton is another person in my sphere. She runs an organization called WorldBlu, dedicated to promoting democratic workplaces. I want to contribute to Traci, because her mission is good, and she's darned smart at executing. So, I love the idea of focusing on relationships, and stepping out of our egocentric worlds to see connections that are so key. Thanks! Dan Mary Jo,
This is a great piece! We forget that tasks are accomplished through people.
I might add one more thought-starter:
Whom can I truly benefit this year and how? We often think of ourselves and our organizations as the places where work happens. But sometimes others provide us greater opportunities. Here’s an extreme example: Being married to the Governor, I know she is in an extraordinary position to affect people’s lives. I can do more by contributing to her – in fairly invisible ways – than I can do with “my” goals. Traci Fenton is another person in my sphere. She runs an organization called WorldBlu, dedicated to promoting democratic workplaces. I want to contribute to Traci, because her mission is good, and she’s darned smart at executing.
So, I love the idea of focusing on relationships, and stepping out of our egocentric worlds to see connections that are so key.
Thanks!
Dan

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-633 Mary Jo Asmus Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:36:07 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-633 Kevin, thanks. Boss with poor communication skills? Read "Difficult Conversations" or "Lead Your Boss", ask for permission to give him or her some feedback, take a deep breath, and provide the feedback using the Situation, Behavior, Impact model. Let me know how it goes! Brigette, Thanks for your kind words! Kevin, thanks. Boss with poor communication skills? Read “Difficult Conversations” or “Lead Your Boss”, ask for permission to give him or her some feedback, take a deep breath, and provide the feedback using the Situation, Behavior, Impact model. Let me know how it goes!

Brigette, Thanks for your kind words!

]]> By: Brigette Glynn http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-632 Brigette Glynn Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:21:46 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-632 I like the part about visualizing what a strong and healthy relationship looks like and then nourishing it. Great content! I like the part about visualizing what a strong and healthy relationship looks like and then nourishing it.

Great content!

]]> By: Matthew Dent http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-631 Matthew Dent Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:27:24 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-631 Mary Jo, I think you nailed it in discussing communication. I also agree with Kevin's comment and think it is the "small talk" that really allows relationships to flourish. What advice do you have for followers where the leaders communication skills are lacking? Mary Jo,
I think you nailed it in discussing communication. I also agree with Kevin’s comment and think it is the “small talk” that really allows relationships to flourish. What advice do you have for followers where the leaders communication skills are lacking?

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-630 Mary Jo Asmus Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:27:18 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-630 Sonia, you have made the wise observation that relationships begin with ourselves. Humility, attention and positivity are great starts - thanks! Kevin, your comment to work in "small talk" at is spot on. Many of my clients, introverted leaders by nature, have learned that that there is great (good) power in spending a bit of time developing an using this skill. Thanks for the great addition to this post! Sonia, you have made the wise observation that relationships begin with ourselves. Humility, attention and positivity are great starts – thanks!

Kevin, your comment to work in “small talk” at is spot on. Many of my clients, introverted leaders by nature, have learned that that there is great (good) power in spending a bit of time developing an using this skill. Thanks for the great addition to this post!

]]> By: Kevin J Porter http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-629 Kevin J Porter Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:08:53 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-629 Mary Jo- I especially like the part about exceptional communication. Communication is key to forming AND maintaining workplace relationships. Taking the extra minute to ask someone how their weekend went or sparking a quick conversation in the copy room has helped me develop relationships with people I don't normally associate with in the work environment. Thanks! Kevin Mary Jo-

I especially like the part about exceptional communication. Communication is key to forming AND maintaining workplace relationships.

Taking the extra minute to ask someone how their weekend went or sparking a quick conversation in the copy room has helped me develop relationships with people I don’t normally associate with in the work environment.

Thanks!
Kevin

]]> By: Sonia Di Maulo http://www.aspire-cs.com/whats-missing-from-your-goals/comment-page-1#comment-628 Sonia Di Maulo Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:33:59 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=739#comment-628 Mary-Jo! Excellent guidelines for *planning* to build great relationships. Great relationships build great workplaces and people excel in great workplaces. You ask: "What has worked for you in strengthening your workplace relationships?" Lots of potential answers but here are a few golden nuggets: Humility, attention, and focusing on the positive. Sonia Mary-Jo!

Excellent guidelines for *planning* to build great relationships. Great relationships build great workplaces and people excel in great workplaces.

You ask: “What has worked for you in strengthening your workplace relationships?”

Lots of potential answers but here are a few golden nuggets: Humility, attention, and focusing on the positive.

Sonia

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