When you are in any type of relationship that isn’t going well, Adam Grant writes that you have four choices on how to respond. Your choice varies based on the control you possess and the commitment you have to preserve the relationship itself, whether that be a personal or professional one.
Your choices are:
- Exit: You leave the relationship
- Voice: You speak up and actively try to improve the situation
- Persistence: Gritting your teeth and bearing the situation as it is without trying to change it
- Neglect: You stay in the relationship but do just enough to get by
If you find interest in a relationship waning, evaluate the amount of control you have and the degree you wish to invest in improving the situation. Depending upon the situation, any of the four strategies may be valid choices but the key is to choose your path with intentionality.
Source: Originals by Adam Grant, 2017
