We are often reminded during times of crisis of those things that are truly important in our lives. Whether the situation is a fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, or even the COVID 19 pandemic, each of these scenarios causes us to reflect on the things that really matter in our lives: family and relationships.
The everyday “hustle and bustle” of life seems even more pronounced during our current crisis as social gatherings, or even family gatherings for that matter, are more complex and problematic. It would be readily understood that our present circumstances are anything but enjoyable.
The reality of it may be that we have lost the passion for pursuing joy. Face-to-face interactions that encompass transparent and real conversations are often replaced with Snapchat depictions of how we “desire” to be perceived without ever having to go “below the surface” to what our lives are really like.
As social creatures, we long for human interactions that provide us with the affirmation and security we need to function as human beings.[i] Without these interactions, we are left feeling lonely and isolated, which has become all too frequent in our social media-addicted culture. This longing can only be filled in relationships with others who need it just as much as we do. The challenge is that these relationships must be pursued and need time to develop.
The counterintuitive part of taking the time to develop genuine relationships is that when we do, the joy derived from the affirmation and security byproducts of the relationship creates a desire to spend more time growing the relationship. By deliberately taking the time to invest in relationships through transparent communication, our expectations can be realized, and we will experience the joy we naturally seek.
The time is ripe for leaders to ‘dare to be different’ and model real social interaction with their followers and colleagues. Those who do will thrive as they discover unleashed creativity and ingenuity from those, they are privileged to lead.[ii]
[i] Phillips, R. (2021). Finding Joy in Leadership: By Developing Trust You Can Count On. BDI
[ii] Phillips, R. (2021). Finding Joy in Leadership: By Developing Trust You Can Count On. BDI