The use of technology has created unlimited opportunities to connect each day with thousands of people around the world. However, this interconnectedness has an extremely high cost. Our face-to-face relationship skills are starting to atrophy. Responding to a text with LOL or OMG is not the same as being with someone you care about and experiencing the highs and lows of life together. As a result, more and more individuals report feeling socially isolated even though their Facebook and Twitter followers keep expanding.

Good relationships turn bad if you don’t consistently do something to make them better. I know you are busy and you have more to do than time will allow. However, your relationships are too important to use being busy as an excuse for not making a phone call, sending a hand-written note or asking someone to lunch.

Don’t wait for the perfect time or reason to connect with someone. Just identify one person you want to build a better relationship with at work or home and then do something today that will let that individual know you care about them.

Everybody wins when relationships get better, and we all lose when they deteriorate.

Let’s Get Better. Together! Bill Durkin