The Currency of Relationships: 3 Common Reasons We Lose Profitable Connections

We can’t gain profound insights without being influenced by certain individuals, nor can we attain significant accomplishments without first being guided by others.

Relationships are the greatest currencies humans can ever possess.

Often, we mistakenly prioritize knowledge and wealth, overlooking that these very assets stem from the people in our lives.

The truth is that meaningful relationships pave the way for acquiring valuable knowledge and achieving financial success.

We can’t gain profound insights without being influenced by certain individuals,

nor can we attain significant accomplishments without first being guided by others.

I often find myself wary of individuals who claim to be self-sufficient islands,

asserting that they’ve achieved success solely through their own efforts, without any help from others. This mindset reeks of ingratitude.

The Currency of Relationships: 3 Common Reasons We Lose Profitable Connections

Regardless of our personal perspectives on life, God’s plans for us are invariably fulfilled through the people He places in our lives.

This is why it’s crucial that we cherish and honour our meaningful relationships.

If we fail to nurture and respect these relationships with the right attitude, we’ll inevitably struggle.

Many individuals struggle to nurture valuable relationships, leading to the loss of connections that could have propelled them towards their destiny.

This is often due to a lack of discernment and the right attitude in managing these relationships effectively.

Hence, in this article, I will explore the 3 common reasons people lose profitable relationships,

and provide practical guides to help you cultivate and maintain meaningful connections, ensuring you don’t miss out on the benefits they can bring.

The Currency of Relationships: 3 Common Reasons We Lose Profitable Connections

1. Unclear Boundaries/Vision:

Just as a successful organization relies on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), relationships require clear goals to thrive.

Establishing standards and expectations helps ensure a healthy and flourishing connection.

However, many people neglect to define their relationship goals, leading to uncertainty and potentially toxic situations.

Consider Labi’s story, for instance.

As a high-achieving professional, Labi’s boss entrusted him with a critical role, impressed by his qualifications and track record.

This led to his boss taking a keen interest in working closely with Labi at the top level.

Labi, however, had a major flaw: he struggled to control his sexual desires.

He consistently abused his position to exploit his female staff and prospective employees, who were either intimidated by his authority or desperate for a job.

As a result, they felt powerless to resist his unwanted advances.

This predatory behaviour continued unchecked until one day, a brave female staff member, Liya, decided to take a stand against Labi’s abuse.

Liya devised a plan with a few trusted colleagues,

instructing them to secretly record any future incidents of Labi’s harassment in his office, using their phones to gather evidence.

After executing the plan, Liya compiled the incriminating videos of Labi engaging in sexual acts with multiple female staff members in his office.

She then sent the compromising footage to Labi, threatening to make it public unless he met her demands.

When Labi failed to comply, the explicit videos were leaked online, spreading rapidly and causing his reputation to be severely damaged.

The incident also tarnished the organization’s image,

as Labi’s position and company affiliation were publicly associated with the scandal, further highlighting the severity of his misconduct.

This scandal infuriated Labi’s boss, who had previously vouched for him.

As a result, he took the drastic step of terminating Labi’s employment.

This scenario serves as a cautionary tale for many of us, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries in our relationships.

If Labi had established clear boundaries with his female staff, would he have suffered public humiliation and lost his boss’s trust?

The answer is clear: No.

Labi’s staff could have been a valuable asset in helping him achieve even greater success,

but his lack of self-control and failure to set clear boundaries ultimately led to his downfall.

This serves as a stark reminder that when we have much to lose, we must be mindful of how our weaknesses can be exploited when we’re associated with certain individuals.

Remember, every person has a reputation and integrity to uphold; once lost, they can be irreparably damaged.

To safeguard these essential aspects, it’s crucial to establish clear goals and boundaries in your relationships.

Maintain healthy boundaries by keeping colleagues as just colleagues while at work.

If you have a mutual agreement, you can nurture your relationship outside of work, allowing you to continue valuing each other’s contributions.

Similarly, preserve the respect you initially had for your boss,

and honour their trust by safeguarding the reputation of the responsibilities they’ve entrusted to you.

By doing so, we can effectively manage our relationships,

and avoid losing valuable connections that could have served as stepping-stones for growth, as Labi tragically experienced.

The Currency of Relationships: 3 Common Reasons We Lose Profitable Connections

2. Eye Service:

It’s a universal truth that humans are imperfect, yet many of us try to project a flawless image to impress others.

In our eagerness to please, we often pretend to be someone we’re not, instead of embracing our authentic, humble selves.

This facade can lead to missed opportunities for growth and development, as we fail to connect with people who could have helped us become the best version of ourselves.

Some individuals present themselves as self-sufficient ‘islands’ to their potential benefactors when in reality, they need guidance and support.

Unfortunately, this pretence can ultimately cost them the valuable benefits that could have arisen from the relationship.

Let’s consider the career aspect, for instance.

I’m reminded of a young man named Fred, who had recently graduated from university.

In an attempt to brand himself, Fred started presenting himself on social media as a seasoned business and leadership coach.

Despite having zero experience in the field, Fred’s online persona conveyed a sense of authority and expertise.

His supposedly insightful posts about business and leadership garnered significant attention,

and before long, experienced professionals from various organizations began to take notice.

They were impressed by his ideas and started inviting him to work with their teams to help them achieve their business goals.

However, when Fred stepped into the first organization, he failed miserably to deliver on his promises, as he lacked the necessary experience to back up his ideas.

Undeterred by this setback, and fueled by the popular quote “Failure is only a stepping stone to success,”

he received another invitation from a different organization to lead a team, based on his self-proclaimed expertise.

Unfortunately, he failed again, just as spectacularly as the first time.

It was only then that he realized there was so much more to learn, and that the only way to truly acquire knowledge was to take things one step at a time,

rather than trying to abruptly establish himself as an authority when he was still a learner.

But the consequences of Fred’s actions didn’t stop there.

He also damaged the relationships he had built with the business authorities who had once given him a chance.

They lost faith in him, and he lost value in their eyes.

It’s unlikely they’ll ever consider him for future opportunities.

Worse still, he may cross paths with them again in the future, and they could become major obstacles to his progress unless he takes the time to genuinely improve himself.

The lesson here is clear: instead of living a life of pretence to achieve fleeting success,

Fred needs to focus on building authenticity and earning respect through hard work and dedication.

And if you’re like Fred, the same applies to you.

The Currency of Relationships: 3 Common Reasons We Lose Profitable Connections

3. Access Mismanagement:

Many of us tend to abuse the access we’re given, leading to the downfall of relationships with those who could have been valuable mentors or helpers.

Consider this scenario: your spiritual leader opens up to you, granting you access to their personal life.

As you grow closer, you start to notice their vulnerabilities and, as a result, begin to disrespect them.

You start to view them as ‘just human’ like yourself, and the reverence you once had for them fades away.

This mismanagement of access can lead to the erosion of respect and ultimately, the demise of the relationship.

Access to people we should reverence is not a license to assume we’re on the same level.

Rather, it’s a privilege that demands respect.

When those in positions of authority or influence grant us access to their lives, we should view it as an honour and continue to hold them in high esteem.

As I mentioned earlier, maintaining the initial respect we had for them is crucial.

By doing so, we create a foundation for a strong and healthy relationship to grow.

In conclusion, cherish and honour your meaningful relationships, for they are a sacred trust.

Guard them against the erosive forces of ego and weakness, and recognize the vital role that others play in your life.

Remember, God often uses people to bless and uplift one another.

By honouring and respecting others, you are, in effect, honouring God.

Romans 12:10 KJV

[10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.12.10.KJV 

May your life be enriched by the beauty and power of meaningful relationships, and may you also become a blessing to those around you.

Also Read: Toxic Relationship Recovery – Diademng

A Faith that has not been Tested cannot be Trusted – Diademng

The Currency of Relationships: 3 Common Reasons We Lose Profitable Connections