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Relationships are key to our success and as we advance our career they become increasingly important. So it is helpful to take a step back and understand if we have the relationships we need, the strength of them and their value.
We need the right relationships with the right people and to be healthy it needs to be strong and have a healthy level of tension. Without tension, e.g. someone that always agrees with you and never questions you, there is no growth or value for anyone in the relationship. Of course where there is too much tension then it can lead to constant conflict that again adds no value and can be destructive.

When we do this with the relationships that are key to us being able to do our job and have the influence we need, we can ask ourselves:

• What relationships do I need to strengthen?
• Where do I need to add or reduce tension?
• Are there any relationships I need to diminish or lose completely?

Think about the 5 or 6 key relationships that you need to be successful in what you are doing

1. Use a blank piece of paper and map these out as a constellation – with you at the centre and the different people in circles – the bigger the circle, the more important the relationship
2. Draw a line between you and each of these people use the line to show strength of relationship (the thicker the line the stronger) AND Tension - the wavier/jagged the more tension.

Tension is important to relationships, it is what needed for the relationships, it leads to growth and addition of value both ways. Relationships that always agree and never question us do not add value.