A healthy working relationship with employees creates a positive work environment and helps grow an organisation. Not much is talked about the boss-employee relationship. Like any other relation­ship, it also has many wavelengths and needs a proper flow to sustain and grow.

Good relationships are more about mutual admiration and under­standing. However, it is a process that needs genuine effort, time, and empathy.

1. Bond of trust

The most important part of a boss-employee relationship is trust. Always be honest with your employ­ees and never twist your words. Always tell the truth.

Be more transparent while you approach your employees. And never gossip about your employees or share any of their personal information with others. Trust is the building block and makes your relationship with employees sustainable. So trust-building will give you great results.

Bridge the relationship with trust to sustain it.

2. Merge the gap with communi­cation

Communication is one of the most important key aspects of the boss-employee relationship.

Open and honest communication gives you an understanding of the employees’ sentiments, needs, and a good company culture.

A workplace should not only limit to email communication. Weekly meetings and hearing out the em­ployees help you achieve more em­ployee loyalty. Good communication fills the gap between awkwardness and other human complexities.

3. Appreciate your employees

A simple gesture or a “Thank you” note can lift your mood and keep you motivated.

Give your employees the appreci­ation they need. They work for you and dedicate a lot of time and effort to your company’s growth. Pat their backs, make them feel special, and let them know how much you value their work. Do it honestly and not just for the sake of it.

Though it would take very little time to appreciate their excellent work, for them, this can bring a whole new motivation and engage­ment in their work.

4. Respect your employees

Respect your employees and their opinions. Never make your employees feel neglected. Please don’t be harsh on their face when you disagree with them. Respect their inputs and try to explain your point of view with a little more empathy.

5. Implement autonomy

Give your employees freedom in your workplace. Nobody would appreciate you if you don’t give your employees enough room and space to complete their tasks. Autonomy in the workplace increases job satis­faction and your relationship with employees.

6. Show value, be empathetic

Value your employees. When you do it honestly, your relationship would automatically transcend to another level. If any of your employ­ees face problems and have a hard time dealing with them, give them your helping hand. Supporting them in their crises could create wonders for your relationship.

7. One to one interactions

Go a little extra mile to talk to your employees and have a one-to-one interaction with them when needed. This would create a sense of support for your employees.

Ask your employees if they are happy with the work assigned to them. If they find enough support from their team members? Are they keen on learning other processes? Or any suggestions they have on the current way of work.

Questions like these would give your employees a sense of morale boost and help build positive rela­tionships.

8. Have a learning attitude

Don’t take the proverb “The boss is always right” literally. Keep a learning attitude, which would help the employees feel more comfortable while giving their point of view to you. This also allows the employees to realise that they are the same and gives a sense of oneness.

At the end of the day, the Boss-employee relationship is all about trust and believing in their work. Hence, it is a collaboration where genuine involvement from both parties is compulsory.

Divorce has significant spiritual ramifications, affecting not only the couple but also their children and extended family members. For individuals grounded in faith, mar­riage is often considered a covenant blessed by God. Thus, divorce can challenge personal beliefs, shake the spiritual foundations of those involved, and create a lasting impact on the religious aspects of their lives (Lambert, 2014).

a. Weakening of spiritual foun­dation

Termination of marriage can se­verely shake the spiritual foundation of both spouses and their children. For many Christians, marriage is a union ordained by God, making its dissolu­tion deeply troubling. The emotional pain, confusion, and self-doubt that come with divorce can cause people to question their faith, creating a sense of spiritual disconnection. According to Thomas and Sawhill (2002), individuals who undergo divorce frequently report feeling spiritually uprooted and distant from their beliefs, which can make it difficult to find peace and solace in religious practices.

b. Struggle with forgiveness

One of the core tenets of Christi­anity and many other faiths is forgive­ness. Divorce, especially if caused by betrayals or abuse, challenges this val­ue, resulting in bitterness and resent­ment (Lambert, 2014). Both partners may struggle with forgiveness—wheth­er it is forgiving each other, forgiving themselves, or even forgiving others involved in the process, such as family members or friends who took sides. This inability to forgive can create a lingering sense of guilt, further complicating the healing process and obstructing spiritual growth.

c. Conflict with biblical teach­ings

For many Christians, marriage is a lifelong commitment, underpinned by scriptures that discourage divorce. The Bible, for example, states in Matthew 19:6 (NIV): “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Divorce presents an internal conflict with these teachings on the sanctity of marriage and the permanence of vows, often leaving individuals feeling ashamed or guilty for “breaking” a sacred vow. This can trigger emotional turmoil as individuals try to reconcile their decision with their religious val­ues (Lambert, 2014).

d. Impact on prayer and wor­ship

The emotional toll of divorce affects the ability of the spouse and children to engage in prayer and worship. Feelings of unworthiness, guilt, or abandonment may hinder individuals from fully participating in communal worship or private devotion (Amato & Previti, 2003). Studies sug­gest that religiously active individuals going through divorce may feel distant from their spiritual community—lead­ing to lower levels of participation in religious practices (Kreider, 2020). This alienation can exacerbate the emotional and spiritual pain, creating a barrier between the individual and their faith.

e. Sense of abandonment and spiritual isolation

The breakdown of a marriage can instill a sense of abandonment, not only from the former spouse but also from God. People may question why they had to endure the pain of separa­tion and may feel that God has aban­doned them. This spiritual isolation may contribute to a crisis of faith, as individuals may grapple with feelings of being forsaken. A study on faith and marital dissolution in the USA found that 29 per cent of divorces reported a temporary or permanent decline in their belief in divine support during and after the process (Lambert, 2014).

f. Difficulty in finding spiritual healing

Divorce complicates the process of spiritual healing. The deep wounds left by the end of a marriage can create an inner sense of failure—making it challenging for individuals to accept God’s forgiveness or feel worthy of divine love. This can obstruct ef­forts toward spiritual restoration and growth, making it difficult for those involved to achieve peace. Research shows that people who participate in regular faith-based support groups or counselling programmes tend to recov­er more effectively from the spiritual and emotional scars left by divorce (Kreider, 2020).

To be continued …

Source: Excerpts from ‘Preparing for a Happy and Fulfilling Marriage’ Book by REV. COUNSELOR PRINCE OF­FEI (Psychotherapist, Lecturer, and Marriage Therapist). https://counsel­orprinceass.wixsite.com/edu-coun­seling-psych

https://princeoffei22.wixsite. com/website-psychologist

https://princeoffei22.wixsite. com/website

COUNSELOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAIN­ING INSTITUTE)