"Ghosting" vs. Relationship Building

Google says that “Ghosting is the act of suddenly cutting off all communication with someone without any warning or explanation. The person who ghosts ignores all calls, texts, and social media messages, effectively vanishing from the other person's life. It is often used to avoid confrontation, leaving the recipient hurt, confused, and without closure.”  

I’ve been ghosted a couple of times in the last few years, and I would add “annoyed” to the definition above. It’s frustrating to have someone you have a relationship with stop communicating and not know why. Did I do something that made that person unhappy that I can possibly fix, or are they just generally conflict avoidant and this is a common practice for them? As a conflict resolution expert, I know there are better options.

Now there are people who are so emotionally toxic that your best option is to minimize or cease your interactions with them. Sometimes these folks are called “energy vampires” because they suck the good energy right out of you. And people who are physically dangerous are no brainers. Thank goodness these folks are relatively rare.

Business and life success and happiness depend on relationships. We humans are “pack” animals who are biologically hard-wired to form close relationships with others. Not only has this trait served us well as a survival mechanism for our species, but caring relationships with others is one of the four major sources of overall happiness.

Therefore, it is self-destructive to “ghost” people in your life because it creates ill will towards you. Making a clean break by telling someone that the relationship is no longer win-win is much better for your future happiness than actively mistreating them by ghosting them.

Build all the win-win relationships you can in your business and in your life—the payoffs are prodigious.

Don’t be a stranger. (770) 993-1129. tdockery@TheResolveFirm.com