Ron Rowe: Relationships are the key to everything

Ron Rowe

Relationships - the be all and end all of pretty much everything.

Nothing - Yes, that's right, nothing of value in this world of ours happens, to the extent that it could or should, without strong, supportive trusting relationships.

No matter whether you are a leader of a political party, a mayor, a member of a local body, a family member, or a member of any organisation, or the customer of any organisation.

The one single factor that either makes or breaks a relationship is the activity or inactivity around the relationship itself. Too often one, or more of the *thirteen essential elements of a successful relationship are missing, or worse still taken for granted.

In my years of tertiary teaching and in management marketing I cannot recall any time of that past when I've heard so many negative comments as to the service which has 'not' been provided in the way and manner in which the customer thought that it should have been.

'Service' - in whatever context, and however the form you require it, is all to do with relationships ... positive and negative.

Why? Is this any different now than a mere 25 years ago?

A major factor has, in my view, greatly influenced that way we relate to one another.

The past decade, and the last few years especially, has seen inordinate amounts of information in respect of the positive and negative effects of 'technology' (in all its forms - and they are many and varied) flowing like an unstoppable river of molten lava pouring forth from the volcanic source.

The deep underground sources of magma giving rise to the volcano outpouring is of course the unquenchable thirst that we have, 'us' (humans), for more, better and faster, technological wizardry to enable 'us' to do more, in less time with consummate ease to the point of laziness, mind numbing and dare I say - discourtesy ... and the resultant loss of positive relationships.

My research clearly indicates that we can be seduced to the point of being addicted by the supposed need for the latest and greatest 'smart device', pad, tablet, computer, gaming boxes, smart TV, all round sound and such like.

Yet the most seductive fact, or situation that I see from reading and researching a great deal of information is that much 'de-personalising' or 'de-humanising' is taking place and this has a significant cost to relationships, in all its many forms, and to the way life is lived.

It can be changed to become 'A' positive ... as the more High Tech we are exposed to the more High Touch we, as humans, require.

John Naisbitt's book Megatrends 2000 began the journey for me during my tertiary teaching in fields of management, marketing and strategy, and more latterly as an adviser and facilitator in governance and strategic direction.

I felt, believed, and remain convinced that what Naisbitt had hit upon was crucial in the further and better understanding of what technology meant for us as 'people', in societies and communities and our world where human actions, and situations were, and always would be, vital and critically important.

I leave you with the *thirteen essential elements of a successful relationship in the form of an acronym.

Respect (for yourself and others); Encouraging; Leadership; Attitude; Trust; Inspiration; Optimism; Nurturing; Supportive; Honesty; 'I' (it's all down to me in reality); Personal; and Sharing.

Ron Rowe has over 50 years of active leadership in several community based and volunteer organisations. A key note speaker at the UN International Year of the Volunteer, (subject Servant Leadership), he established the first NZ/South Pacific office for Lions Clubs International.