Your 50%

Margot Cairnes in her book, Approaching the Corporate Heart states: “We are all responsible for 50% of every relationship we are in. Our 50%.

When our relationships don’t work we only ever try to change 50% – the other 50% we have no control over – because it is the other person’s 50%! If we want our relationships to change, whether they are personal or business relationships, we need to change our 50%. The only thing we have absolute control over is our thoughts – so, we can change them.

Changing our 50% doesn’t mean that the other person will be different. However, it does mean that they will relate to us differently. By changing our own 50%, we bring an alive, interesting and purposeful person to the relationship – it is amazing how much power one has by making that change.

We all know that good businesses are built on, and thrive on, good relationships. Thus, we need to nurture all our relationships with all our stakeholders.

How do you think it might benefit you to take responsibility for 50% of every relationship you are in?