Social Relationships and Success
A study published in 2011 found that socially connected kids were more likely to become happier adults. And happiness is certainly an important measure of success.
We’ve extolled the benefits of long-term, committed relationships, but what about maintaining other kinds of social connections? Are you better off deleting your former friends and colleagues from your friends list, or should you do your best to maintain those relationships, no matter how distant they may seem? And what of your current friendships? Is it wiser to beg off social events in favor of spending more time at the office, or can socializing actually contribute to making you more successful?
The data indicates that social connectedness actually does bolster one’s chances of achieving success, and that this is true from an early age. A study published in 2011 found that socially connected kids were more likely to become happier adults. And happiness is certainly an important measure of success.
Having strong social connections also plays a role in academic success. A reliable social support network helps students cope with challenging coursework, and having friends to spend time with can certainly alleviate some of the stress of college life.
After college, social connections continue to play an important role. A 2012 study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicated that job applicants who came recommended by current employees were two times as likely to be interviewed, and nearly 40% more likely to be hired. So in that sense, it certainly does seem that having a wide network of friendships that are tended to often can play a crucial role in career and professional success.
Defining What Success Means to You
Author and personal development guru Jim Rohn is famously quoted as saying, “You are an average of the five people you spend the most time with,” and many people will find this to be true if they take stock of their social connections.
“You are an average of the five people you spend the most time with.”Jim RohnSome would criticize this idea because it can be interpreted to mean one should cut off friendships with those who are not financially successful. Of course, not everyone defines success as net worth. There are many different types of success, and financial security is certainly one, but success could also be defined as being engaged with rewarding work, having a stable long-term romantic relationship, or traveling the world. What it all comes down to, as with many things in life, is your personal priorities.
In Life, Connections Do Matter
We’re all familiar with stories that portray the most successful among us as lonely visionaries, brilliant yet misanthropic geniuses that achieve great things due in part to their isolation. But it would seem that they’re in the minority. Social connectedness and long-term romance have been repeatedly shown to be strong indicators of success.
Recommended Reading List for More Information
From the St. Louis Fed: “For Love or Money: Why Married Men Make More”
From Lifehacker: “How the People Around You Affect Personal Success”
From the Academy of Management Journal: “A Social Capital Theory of Career Success”
From the PSY Blog: “The Key to Happiness: Brainpower or Social Connectedness?”
From the Greater Good, out of UC Berkeley: “Scratch a Happy Adult, Find a Socially Connected Childhood”
From Forbes: “The No. 1 Way to Get Hired Today”
From Time Magazine: “How Friendship Makes You More Successful“
[Photo Via: TwoBrightLights]