Building and maintaining relationships with friends, family, colleagues, and clients is a fulfilling part of life. Relationships are vital for our well-being, career growth, and overall enjoyment of life.
However, we often find ourselves letting relationships fade due to lack of time, only to regret it later. As connections become weaker, it becomes harder to rekindle them. We fear that reaching out will seem insincere or opportunistic.
Imagine relationships like a classic car left to rust. With some care and attention, they can be restored to their former glory. Here are some tips to revive those “rusty relationships”:
- Invest in relationships without expecting anything in return: Show genuine interest and inject enthusiasm back into the connection.
- Use bridge connections to find common ground: Leveraging common connections or interests can revitalize a dormant relationship.
- Address past issues and commit to a new path: Be honest about previous shortcomings and make a fresh start.
- Proactively stay connected: Reach out regularly, not just when you need something.
- Reach out quickly and with intention: Don’t let relationships go cold by waiting too long to reconnect. Speed and relevance are key.
Don’t let the maintenance of relationships overshadow their value. Just as a neglected classic car can be revived, so can meaningful connections that have lost their luster.
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Opinions expressed in posts are solely those of the author and not investment advice. Views do not necessarily reflect those of CFA Institute or the author’s employer.
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