Last week started my series on relationships and how they're related to leadership. The theory is that those who are great leaders have great relationships. Thus, if you learn the fundamentals of building great relationships you can understand how to become a great leader.
The University of Washington wrote an article about Healthy Relationships and identifies qualities in a good relationship. Of the 17 qualities, these are my top 5 related to leadership:
- Treat each other with respect.
- Feel secure and comfortable.
- Support one another.
- Can trust each other.
- Communicate clearly and openly.
Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant Lolly Daskal, recently wrote in a post on LinkedIn about trust being a long-term investment. She highlights some key elements to remember about trust, and how to build it. Here are a few related to my top 5 relationship qualities noted above:
- Let others know they matter.
- Build your reputation through character.
- Remember there's no "I" in trust.
- View promises as nonnegotiable.
- Repeat the message.
A research article by David L. Mineo of DL Mineo Consulting published by the National Council of University Research Administrators points out The Importance of Trust in Leadership. To quote him,
"When a leader speaks it is important to be able to have confidence in the honesty, truthfulness, and sincerity of the words. This is the essence of trust."
- David L. Mineo
- David L. Mineo
Where do you see the similarities between building relationships and becoming a great leader?
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