Building Relationships That Support Your Performance
Victoria Canham CPC, PCC, ELI-MP
Performance Consultant | Helping You & Your Team Lead Better, Achieve More, and Thrive Happier | Coaching, Facilitation, Mediation (and always up for a debate on the best fly-half)
The people we surround ourselves with should be people who understand life’s meaning, who are seeking it out, people who want to feel fulfilled, do good things, be role models because those people lift us up. - Brendon Burchard
They say you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with. If that thought makes you pause, good, because the company you keep directly impacts your performance, success, and overall well-being.
High-performing professionals and business owners don’t just stumble upon great relationships. They curate them. They invest in them. And they know when to walk away from those that no longer serve them. If you’re serious about levelling up, you need to be just as intentional.
The Power of Your Inner Circle
Your inner circle isn’t just your friends or colleagues—it’s the people who influence your mindset, decisions, and ambitions. The right relationships challenge you to think bigger, hold you accountable, and provide the support you need when times get tough.
Ask yourself:
If not, it’s time for a relationship audit.
How to Build Relationships That Elevate You
1. Seek Out High Performers
Surround yourself with people who are already playing the game at a higher level than you. Their habits, mindset, and standards will naturally elevate yours. Find mentors, coaches, or peer groups that challenge you to grow.
Where to start:
2. Eliminate Energy Drainers
Not every relationship is meant to last forever. Some people drain your energy, feed your self-doubt, or keep you in old patterns. If you consistently feel exhausted or uninspired after spending time with someone, it might be time to create distance.
Signs of an energy drainer:
Letting go doesn’t mean cutting people off dramatically—it means reallocating your time and energy towards relationships that align with your future, not just your past.
3. Invest in Meaningful Connections
Strong relationships don’t happen by accident; they require effort. Prioritise quality over quantity. Deep, meaningful relationships are far more valuable than a large network of surface-level contacts.
How to strengthen relationships:
4. Be the Kind of Person You Want to Attract
The best way to attract high-quality relationships? Become a high-quality person. Raise your own standards. Work on your mindset. Show up with integrity, discipline, and generosity. The right people will naturally gravitate towards you.
5. Leverage Professional Coaching and Peer Accountability
Even the best need external support (it’s not the low performers investing $1m per year in Tony Robbins programmes). Investing in a coach or joining an accountability group ensures you stay on track and keep pushing your limits. High performers understand that surrounding themselves with the right people includes having mentors who can see blind spots and accelerate progress.
Final Thoughts
Your relationships are either helping you to move forward or holding you back. Take control. Audit your circle. Seek out ambitious, growth-minded individuals. And most importantly, be intentional about the kind of relationships you nurture.
Want to work with someone who can help you build the right network, upgrade your mindset, and achieve next-level success? Let’s have a conversation. Book a call today.