Who dare challenge the power of relationships?

I once had a leader who was convinced that relationships played second fiddle to competence and capabilities.

I know another leader who is so good at creating, fostering and promoting relationships that he changed his title, removing President thus hiring someone in that role and directed his focus to develop stronger relationships inside and outside the organization and less on day-to-day operations.

This could be about personalities and preferences but since this blog is supposed to be about leadership, I’ll stay on topic.

You’ve seen me quote “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  Attributed to Maya Angelou but others before her captured the same sentiment.  This isn’t about who said it first but that many great leaders acknowledged how critical it is to have a strong relationship above all else.

In the professional setting, relationships are labeled connections/part of your network.  When someone thinks two company representatives might benefit from knowing each other, they would refer one to the other.  I just made one of those virtual introductions last evening with the sincere desire for the relational value to be accretive.

In a personal setting, relationships are typically considered to be friends.  When someone thinks two people would benefit from knowing each other, they play matchmaker.  Friends helping friends.

In each case, the risk is high because if the referred relationship doesn’t materialize, it may backfire on the original relationship.  Tricky business.  Worth the risk.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, would be to make at least one new friend today.  Smile, shake a hand, show some genuine interest and invest in humanity today.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

Have a blessed weekend!