Vital Friends Tom Rath Summary
James Howard
Mrs. Rice
9:30 Class
Dec. 2
Book Review Final
In “Vital Friends: The People You Can’t Afford to Live Without”, Tom Rath embarks on a massive study about the impact of friendships in all contexts. In particular, he devotes a section to friendship in the workplace and discovered “that people who have a ‘best friend at work’ are seven times as likely to be engaged in their job.”
Let’s pause and reflect on the meaning of that for a minute. For most of us it seems that friendships are discouraged at the workplace and yet Rath is able to prove that “many people succeed or fail based on the support and involvement of their best friends.” I am in the midst of tackling my own book on Cultivating Winning Relationships that takes a look at …show more content…
Rath defines friends into “Eight Vital Roles”. These are: Builder, Champion, Collaborator, Companion, Connector, Energizer, Mind Opener and Navigator. He not only includes steps on how to strengthen these relationships but also helps us to clarify which people in our lives play which roles. Having an understanding of these roles allows each person to simply be who they are and not who we need them to be. This frees us from trying to expect everything from one person.
Builders are great motivators, always pushing you toward the finish line. They continually invest in your development and genuinely want you to succeed – even if it means they have to go out on a limb for you. Great builders will not compete with you. They figure out how their talents can complement yours. If you need a catalyst for your personal or professional growth, stay close to a Builder.
Champions stand up for you and what you believe in. They are the friends who sing your praises. Every day, this makes a difference in your life. When you succeed, they are proud of you, and they share it with others. Champions thrive on your accomplishments and happiness. When you need someone to promote your cause, look to a
Mrs. Rice
9:30 Class
Dec. 2
Book Review Final
In “Vital Friends: The People You Can’t Afford to Live Without”, Tom Rath embarks on a massive study about the impact of friendships in all contexts. In particular, he devotes a section to friendship in the workplace and discovered “that people who have a ‘best friend at work’ are seven times as likely to be engaged in their job.”
Let’s pause and reflect on the meaning of that for a minute. For most of us it seems that friendships are discouraged at the workplace and yet Rath is able to prove that “many people succeed or fail based on the support and involvement of their best friends.” I am in the midst of tackling my own book on Cultivating Winning Relationships that takes a look at …show more content…
Rath defines friends into “Eight Vital Roles”. These are: Builder, Champion, Collaborator, Companion, Connector, Energizer, Mind Opener and Navigator. He not only includes steps on how to strengthen these relationships but also helps us to clarify which people in our lives play which roles. Having an understanding of these roles allows each person to simply be who they are and not who we need them to be. This frees us from trying to expect everything from one person.
Builders are great motivators, always pushing you toward the finish line. They continually invest in your development and genuinely want you to succeed – even if it means they have to go out on a limb for you. Great builders will not compete with you. They figure out how their talents can complement yours. If you need a catalyst for your personal or professional growth, stay close to a Builder.
Champions stand up for you and what you believe in. They are the friends who sing your praises. Every day, this makes a difference in your life. When you succeed, they are proud of you, and they share it with others. Champions thrive on your accomplishments and happiness. When you need someone to promote your cause, look to a