From Leadership & Learning with Kevin Eikenberry
Why is it that some leaders can easily gain compliance from the people they are trying to lead, while others struggle? What leadership skills are necessary to successfully build and lead a unified team?
The answers to those questions vary, depending on whom you ask, but one skill that is often omitted from the conversation is a leader’s ability to develop relationships. And it goes beyond merely developing relationships with a select group of people you work with.
We’re talking about forming relationships at every level in your organization, from your employees and peers to your supervisor and members of upper management. When you know and understand the people with whom you work, you are able to see every situation from their perspective and that makes you a stronger decision maker and overall leader.
Now we’re not saying that as long as you develop relationships you will be the greatest leader of all time. You will need to master many skills; however, as you begin your leadership journey, nothing is more important than honing your ability to connect with the people around you, and more specifically the people who work for you.
Think about it: Recall a time when you worked for someone who did not respect you and never bothered to develop a personal relationship with you. The person saw you only as a worker bee, someone who could be easily replaced.
Now recall that supervisor who went above and beyond to build a connection with you. The supervisor treated you as an equal, respected your insight, experience and skills, and actually cared about your job satisfaction and career goals. The person believed that you were an asset and treated you that way.
Now answer these questions honestly:
- Under which leader did you work harder to achieve goals?
- Whom did you trust more?
- Which supervisor did you more willingly support, even when changes or plans were less than ideal?
- During which scenario did you show up to work excited to tackle the day?
- Which leader were you most loyal to?
- Which leader would you go to bat for?
If you were honest, you more than likely chose the second leader for every question. Employees who are valued and respected by their leaders are more likely to go the extra mile for those leaders. And when the going gets tough, you will need employees who are willing to do everything it takes to succeed.
The lesson? Take the time now to foster healthy relationships with your employees. Doing so will pay off immediately and well into the future.
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