Connection

Abstract

This chapter brings to life how successful relationships in and outside the workplace are established and maintained. The chapter recounts the development of attachment theory and how our earliest interactions set the stage for all our future relationships. Individuals who benefited from secure relationships are likely to navigate the tenuous nature of the modern workplace more effectively. The chapter also takes a tour of John Gottman’s Love Lab, which has become famous for its ability to break down the ingredients of long-lasting and happy marriages, a finding that has profound implications for professional relationships. When the Magic Ratio of positive to negative interactions becomes unbalanced or if any of the Four Horsemen of criticism, contempt, defensiveness, or stonewalling rear their ugly heads, those in a relationship are forewarned to act quickly and decisively.