You've probably heard the old saying that you will be judged by the company you keep. It comes from the idea that a person can be defined to a degree by the kinds of people that surround them. And while it may seem a bit harsh on the surface, it has some validity.
Show me a person whose best friends are liars, and I'll be looking at someone who either tolerates dishonesty or is unable to recognize it.
Show me a person who surrounds himself with creative thinkers and I'll be looking at someone who is open to new ideas.
So you can probably see my next question coming, Enlightened leaders. Who do you surround yourself with, and what does that say about you?
It would be wrong I think to judge someone harshly based upon a couple of their relationships. We all have relationships with people who hold traits we don't admire, sometimes at work and sometimes in our family lives. We are capable of loving and respecting those whom we don't agree with.
But do be sensitive to the patterns you are creating. If you hang with a crowd at work that likes to spread rumors and negativity, it will be hard for you to separate yourself from that behavior to advance yourself.
There is that old saying that you don't want to be the smartest person in the room. There is a grain of truth in that. Surround yourself with good people, and try to be a good person in their lives too. Your network of relationships can elevate you or sink you.
So don't be too quick to throw a valued friendship away. But I also hope you'll spend some time thinking about the patterns of relationships in your life. What kind of people attract you? (I'm not talking about romance.) Do you find yourself drawn to people you admire?
Well said Cheri
If more people were positive, honest and hard working the workplace would be a happier place to be......
Joe Maltase
Posted by: joe maltase | May 22, 2009 at 02:10 PM