How to Maximize the Power of Relationship Leadership
Relationships have the power to expand or shrink the way you think about yourself. In fact, we tend to take on the qualities – for better or worse – of the people closest to us.
Maximize the power of relationship leadership:
#1. Relationships shape your future. Someone said, “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”
Reflection points:
- What’s true of your daily interactions that makes the future of others brighter?
- Make a list of your five strongest relationships and predict your future based on those relationships.
#2. Jim Rohn said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Relationships mold your character.
Reflection points:
- What is there about you that inspires others to bring their best?
- What qualities do you exhibit that, if acquired by others, would make them better people/leaders?
#3. Relationships shape perception. A friend by your side makes hills seem less steep.
Reflection points:
- What is true of your interactions that inspires others to take on new challenges?
- What was true of a person who successfully challenged you to take on a new challenge?
#4. Solomon wrote, “If two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?” Eccl. 4:9 Relationships enable endurance.
Reflection points:
- How are your interactions inspiring others to keep going when the path is steep?
- What is true of the person who sucks the life out of you? How will you NOT be like that?
#5. “I want to make my family proud.” (Spoken – in some form – by Olympic gold medalists.) Relationships give meaning to hard work and success.
Great effort requires a great reason.
Reflection points:
- How might you serve others so profoundly that they seek to make you proud?
- Ask a friend, “What makes you proud of me?” Say, “The thing that makes me proud of you is….”
How might you better integrate relationship leadership into your daily practice?
Who helped you become a better person? How?
Bonus material:
Task vs. Relationship Leadership Theories (Chron)
Leadership as a Relationship: Why We Matters more than I (ckju)
Dan,
….lot of good points that inspired me to think!
To inspire others, your words and actions must consistently support your core beliefs and values. Your words need to be clear and concise. Your actions need to be bold and decisive. And finally, timing is critical.
On the receiving end–people need to open and curious to gain insights and find inspiration.
My mother inspired me by her optimistic and encouraging messages.
Thanks Paul. Glad you jumped in today. You got me thinking about the importance of being real with myself and also speaking to the values and beliefs of others.
Cheers
Wow, another great one. Got me thinking not just about the friends I keep, but the friend I am to others.
My Manager forwarded this link to me, and I am glad he did. I am stepping into a new leadership role, and really appreciated this article. I embrace any opportunity to do some self-reflection on who I am and what kind of leader I aspire to be. Building strong relationships in/out of the work environment are critical to that Leadership Journey.
My comments are mainly aimed at professional relationships.
I feel that our power as leaders starts from caring enough to have a relationship with each person around us. I was once asked what surprised me the most when I became a formal leader (a manager of people by title). My response was (and still is) that I was surprised how much I cared about each person. I have direct skills in my field, but I’ve been blessed and fortunate to be able to lead effectively/successfully more from my heart rather than from any specific skills. I truly care about each person I work with, even when going thru difficult times.
I invest energy getting to know each person who reports to me, as well as others around me – peers and superiors. It makes work more enjoyable and makes working thru difficult times much smoother. If I have a suggestion meant to help, I’m able to express my intent in a caring way. And if there’s need for a crucial conversation, broaching it with care makes all the difference.
Investing in relationships really works. I’m glad to see the emphasis on it here.