In this article, I will discuss how to create a supportive environment for success. Interestingly, there’s a catch in this topic. Without knowing it, one may fail to achieve either success or a supportive environment. There’s a certain conflict in this issue, which we will discuss. After reading this material, you’ll be able to analyze the environment in which your team works and, if necessary, take measures to improve it.
Types of Environments
I identify three types of environments. The worst possible environment is a suppressive one. You probably already have your own concept of what a suppressive environment is. You might have encountered suppression in childhood or maybe you are facing it now. Sometimes this suppression is explicit, when you are openly humiliated.
But there’s also suppression that is not always easy to recognize. And it’s very important to learn to see it. Because the first step to growth is to get rid of a suppressive environment, and only then deal with other aspects.
Recognizing a Hidden Suppressive Environment
Pay attention to people in your environment who like to tease you. They might find it funny, or believe it’s just their sense of humor. But there are genuinely funny people, and then there are those whose jokes make you feel uncomfortable. Pay attention to such people and try to distance yourself from them in your close environment.
If it’s impossible to stop interacting with them, talk to them. Explain that some of their jokes are offensive to you and that such behavior towards you is unacceptable. Some people do this unintentionally. They don’t realize that their jokes are upsetting and make people feel bad.
But there are also people with inherently malicious intentions. Offensive humor is a hidden expression of their evil intentions, and it’s not easy to get rid of them. Such people cannot be asked to stop doing it, because it’s their nature. Therefore, it’s necessary to distance yourself from them as soon as possible. If it’s an employee, they should be dismissed. If it’s an acquaintance, minimize communication, and so on.
Supportive Environment
The second type of environment is one where people provide you with unconditional, limitless support in the format of “whatever you do, I’ll be on your side”. Usually, we receive such support from parents, spouses, and close friends. I believe that a supportive environment doesn’t need to be large. For me, it’s enough that my spouse supports me.
And when I chose a life partner 14 years ago, it was a key criterion for me that the person truly supported me. And for this, I chose a person with a suitable psychotype, because I understood that we needed to match very well.
It’s important that people with whom you spend 90% of your time unconditionally support you. These can be your business partners, a leader, or family. You don’t need many such people. But they should believe in you and not devalue your efforts.
Developing Environment
The next category, which can be large, is a developing environment. The fact is that for success, a supportive environment alone is not enough. A supportive environment is needed to inspire you at the level you are at. To have someone to lean on when things get tough. If you want to grow exponentially, a supportive environment is not enough for you – you need a developing environment.
With such an environment, you will not always be comfortable. Not because they suppress you, but because interacting with them makes you realize you are not good enough and lack with some competencies that they have. By interacting with these people, you will subconsciously be drawn to them. Such an environment pushes and moves you towards success.
From Point A to Point B
This is a very important nuance, so ask yourself: “What do I want to achieve?” If you want to achieve more, you need a developing environment. If you are satisfied with the level you are at and want to grow smoothly, then a supportive environment is enough for you.
But as we know, everything has its price. The farther point B, where you want to go, differs from the point where you are now, the higher the price you will have to pay. Imagine who you want to be in five years, what life you want to live. And are you ready for the fact that in five years, you may not have 90%, or maybe even 100% of the acquaintances and friends who surround you now?
The Importance of People in Achieving Your Goal
If your point B is very different from point A, it means you need to change a lot to achieve your desired goal. And if you interact with other people, it simply will not be physically possible to maintain the same circle of friends. Everything in this life comes to us through people. Ideas, resources, money, jobs, business – all these are brought to us by different people. And that very point B will also come to you through certain people.
Understandably, this will happen gradually and will require effort, but either way, it will come through the people you partner with or work with. For example, you want to reach point B, preferably not in five years but sooner. You need to find those very people and create that very developing environment.
Because the supportive environment often keeps you in the state you are in. Their world is at point A, and they have no goal to reach your point B. They will tell their beliefs, transmit their ideas from point A where they are together with you. As terrible as it sounds, every person in your environment who does not strive for the same point B holds you back at point A.
How to Get into a Developing Environment
The first thing you need to do is define your point B. After you do that, start looking for people who are already at this point. Those who have what you need and live the life you want to live. Read books by people who have achieved what you want.
The best way to get such people into your environment is to be useful to them. And the simplest thing you can do is to start following this person on social networks. Be active: react to posts, respond to stories, and so on. This is actually a very powerful tool that many underestimate. Another way to be useful is to buy this person’s services, buy training, invest in their projects, and so on.
Conclusion
Paying for training or entry into a community is the easiest way to get a ticket into the environment you need. It’s a colossal social elevator. Of course, the purchase itself will not bring the desired result – after that, a lot of effort and constant learning will be required. But access to such things gives a good start and further motivation for development.
You understand that your goal is to get this person into your environment. Therefore, even after the purchase, be as useful as possible. If you are in training, achieve the best results. Another important point – you’ve probably heard the saying that it’s always lonely at the top. And that’s why every person in the environment who strives for the same peak as you is so valuable.
Everyone who has reached this level of spiritual, material, and professional development is very valuable. So when you want to get a strong environment, use these methods. And remember – it’s not only necessary for you, but also for them. If you are valuable to such people, they will give you the necessary resources.
And for them, it’s also a big support because there are few people like you. Those who want, strive, and develop. So move forward, surround yourself with people who will develop you and gradually create your community of ambitious and goal-oriented people.
