What if I were a genie who just came out of the lamp to grant you three wishes? What would you wish for? From what I gather from my own research, there are three main things that most people will want.

• Happiness
• Health
• Money

Well, I might not be able to help you with the third option, but I have some insights on improving your happiness and health.

Believe it or not, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has studied this very subject—it’s the longest study of adult life that has ever been done. For 75 years, they tracked the lives of 724 people from all different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Year after year, they surveyed and asked each person a list of questions in their living rooms, interviewed their children, observed their marriages, studied their medical records, and even scanned their brains.

So, what have they learned? What are the lessons that came from thousands and thousands of pages of data they’ve generated on these people’s lives? Well, surprisingly, the lessons weren’t about wealth, fame, who worked harder, or who became most successful; the clearest message they got from the 75-year study is this…

Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.

From this research, they found that there are three relationships that are good for us:

• Social connections are really good for us, and loneliness kills—those engaged with family, friends, and community are happier, they are physically healthier, and they live longer.
• It’s not the number of connections and people you have but the quality. People who were most satisfied with their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at the age of 80
• Good relationships not only protect our bodies, but they also protect our brains – their memories stay sharper for longer.

Great lessons, right? Well, don’t just take my word for it. Here’s the 12-minute presentation from Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, the current director of the 75-year-old study on adult development, in which he shares the important lessons learned from the study.

So, why are we talking about relationships? First of all, we are currently in the series “The Relationship Factor,” where I’ve been diving into the importance of relationships in our business. And since our personal relationships have been studied and analyzed through many studies out there, what about our business relationships? The benefits of strong social connections and relationships extend beyond personal well-being. They can positively impact work and business life in several ways:

• Team Cohesion and Collaboration: In a work environment, having positive relationships with colleagues fosters a sense of teamwork and collaboration. Employees who feel connected to their coworkers are more likely to communicate effectively, share ideas, and work together toward common goals. This can lead to increased productivity, creativity, and innovation within the organization.
• Employee Engagement and Satisfaction: Supportive relationships at work increase employee engagement and job satisfaction. When employees feel valued, respected, and supported by their peers and supervisors, they are more likely to be motivated, committed, and invested in their work. This can result in lower turnover rates and higher talent retention within the organization.
• Effective Leadership: Strong interpersonal relationships are essential for effective leadership. Leaders who develop positive relationships with their team members earn trust, credibility, and loyalty, which enhances their ability to influence and inspire others. A leader fostering respect, open communication, and collaboration can create a more cohesive and high-performing team.
• Networking and Professional Development: Building and maintaining a professional network is crucial for career growth and advancement. Positive relationships with mentors, peers, and industry contacts provide learning, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Networking allows individuals to exchange ideas, gain new insights, and access career opportunities that may not be available through formal channels.
• Customer Relationships and Loyalty: Strong relationships with customers are essential for building trust, loyalty, and long-term success in business. When businesses prioritize customer satisfaction and develop positive relationships with their clients, they are more likely to retain customers, generate repeat business, and benefit from positive word-of-mouth referrals. Customer relationships also provide valuable feedback and insights that can inform product development and service improvements.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Strong social connections can provide support and resilience during times of change or adversity. Businesses that foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and teamwork are better equipped to navigate challenges, adapt to market shifts, and innovate in response to changing circumstances.
• Work-Life Balance: Positive relationships outside work contribute to employee well-being and work-life balance. Employees who feel supported in their personal lives are more likely to be productive and engaged at work. Employers that prioritize work-life balance and support employees’ personal relationships create a more positive and sustainable work environment.

Overall, cultivating solid social connections and relationships in the workplace promotes collaboration, engagement, and satisfaction among employees, enhances leadership effectiveness, fosters customer loyalty, and contributes to businesses’ overall success and resilience. Investing in relationship-building efforts can yield significant benefits for individuals, teams, and organizations alike.

So, what do you think? Want to live happy and long? Let’s focus and pour our efforts into people and value our relationships over deals. Who knows, maybe that’s also the right formula to fulfill our wish #3…making lots of money!!

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