Showing posts with label Relationships. Show all posts

Relationships: The real leadership. Pt. 2

No Comments »


      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

Where do you see the similarities between building relationships and becoming a great leader?

Find me on Twitter @AlexGaskins and Meddle with me on Meddle.It

Relationships: The real leadership. Pt.1

1 Comment »

Friends Jump Together by Hermanzs at https://www.flickr.com/photos/hermanzs/3640932632/in/photolist-6xJJqy-4aYzd-iQTgh-hto45P-6TKdmE-dSinCp-9tx7mo-e9PaTP-9T2s7t-e8Pmud-d46zM-fAuGU2-vrepm-9BQLxe-HWkHR-ijGrKt-7LV7NM-9qRqbt-dUBYzn-dtKtzz-8LP2w9-4tV8wx-eUKDsx-8ssasU-apDvt1-apMLVL-8WV8EJ-vrn3r-njqq44-nAC2FT-4b8jcR-bybuNS-dtKtye-8K1pKQ-aL7eNT-4RXi2c-aMe3Mr-8gX6Zc-7WdgfL-mUbHWY-fmoCDo-brNfvc-mwRmb-nYYa15-7RpLR3-a7mJSi-n731Ub-8t2ssg-mUtWev-KAaSE
PC: hermanzs

      There are a lot of books on leadership. With influential leadership authors from Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner to Simon Sinek and Mark Miller, some authors have a perspective drawn from religion while others have a perspective forged by the military. You have probably read many of these books.
      "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John Maxwell is one of the most popular leadership books, with more than 24 million copies sold. Over the years John has taught these laws around the world and at many Fortune 500 companies. His book dives outlines how each law can stand alone, there is no order to perform these laws, and if these laws are practiced with a humble heart you will be a better leader. But, this is the vicious circle we come to. Great leaders, in my experience and education, have a passion for life-long learning. It's unfortunate that many of the people who should read books like these won't read books like these. These books are great, but the vast majority of them are only identifying leaders (As a good friend put it.). So, the question still remains: How do we grow leaders?
Just over a year ago, Inc.com posted an article by Jeff Haden titled 9 Habits of People Who Build Extraordinary Relationships. To sum it up; building relationships is simply about valuing other people.

"The person who builds great relationships doesn't think about what [they] want; [they] start by thinking about what [they] can give."
- Jeff Haden

      If real relationships are built on trust, openness, vulnerability, and servitude then isn't that the foundation of real leadership? Understanding our leadership character with the perspective of how we build genuine relationships could unlock our potential to be better leaders.
How do you compare our ability to build genuine relationships with real leadership?

Find me on Twitter @AlexGaskins and Meddle with me on Meddle.It

« Previous Entries