Association: Nurturing till it Blooms

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ­– Proverbs  

I stated in an earlier article that people are peculiar in their own right. Everyone of us is different and relate completely differently to situations that confront us. This brings to mind the fact that the ways we relate to different people must reflect their peculiarities. When you understand this you would see that the statement, “One man’s food is another’s poison,” comes to life.

Nonetheless, there are some principles that cut across the barrier of individual uniqueness. The first is that you should seek the good of your associate. Do not seek to harm or breakeven with hurt. Search out ways that would add positively to the person. If you would regularly seek the good of your associate, you can be sure to get the best out of the person – most of the time.

Second, maintain a positive mental attitude toward your associate. You will not be catering for your associate if your thoughts toward him are always negative. note that you will find what you look for so if you seek negatives from your associate you will find negatives. If you seek positives you will find them. This is so because we all have a good share of both.

Third is a principle I learned from Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It states that in times of sharp disagreements, go for a compromise. What this means is that if you want option A and your associate insists on option B do your best to get her to consider option C, in which none of you would ordinarily have wanted but that suits both of you to an extent.  

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Finally, always seek a win-win situation. Always consider ways that your associate will win while you also win. What this means is that you clearly understand your associates point of view enough to feel what they feel. You must, like the proverb says, “Be in your associates shoe.” Unless you get to that situation you will always try to be understood irrespective of if you understand your associate or not. A win-win can’t be achieved with such an attitude.