The Reality of Relationships

The Reality of Relationships brings together research in psychology and management to create an easy-to-understand guide for building and maintaining more satisfying relationships in social and professional settings.

Landing a dream job, a devastating breakup, or quitting a toxic boss – these are the things that make movies, fill advice columns, and fuel gossip sessions. Less attention, however, is paid to the hard work bit in the middle of established relationships: skills to grow and deepen relationships, navigate conflicts, and set healthy boundaries. The Reality of Relationships shows you how to do that well.

Relationships are often difficult because we interact with people whose priorities differ from our own, and we cannot always choose who they are. Bosses and co-workers, parents, and teachers all tend to have a significant impact on us, yet we do not get a say in who they are. To get the best from these key relationships it's important to understand not only the specific relationships, but also the network of connections around them in order to find practical and effective paths forward.

Given the interconnected nature of our relationships, it is not always feasible to terminate one that is challenging – choosing not to interact with a co-worker, for example. Therefore, we need to focus on how we can effectively manage and shape our interactions with these individuals. The Reality of Relationships helps you identify better relationship options by offering six key relationship interdependence questions to ask yourself, as well as practical tips for facilitating change in your most difficult relationships.

No matter your place in life, The Reality of Relationships offers a proven framework for improving your relationships with others. Randall S. Peterson and Kristin J. Behfar, world-class experts on building teams and relationships, offer advice based on decades of research and consulting helping others to build better relationships at work, home, and in life.