Why You Need To Build Relationships As A Leader

Building relationships is often highlighted as an important part of your success as a leader. As a leader you have many varied relationships to consider including:

Relationships with those in your team
Relationships with your peers
Relationships with key suppliers
Relationships with key customers

As you reach the more senior levels in the organisation your relationships extend even further to include:

Shareholders or stakeholders
The media in the widest sense
Funders such as banks
Analysts whose views influence share prices
Employee bodies such as trade unions

So why do you need to build relationships?

The first reason is that when you invest time getting to know those who you have key relationships with you get insights. For example, with employees you get to hear about things that are concerning employees. With suppliers you can often get insights into upcoming developments that might just give you a real opportunity in your market.

Secondly when things go wrong, which they will from time to time, it will help you to manage the communications more effectively if you have a good relationship with the media rather than being a complete stranger to them.

Thirdly if you have invested in relationships and taken an interest in others they are more likely to respond proactively when the chips are down.

Finally, people have a natural tendency to be attracted to people who are genuinely interested in them.

So what could you do today to start building better relationships or what have you found works well when it comes to building relationships?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to become highly effective leaders and managers. He invites you to take advantage of his free audio e-course Leadership Success at www.goalsandachievements.co.uk.

About the Author Duncan Brodie

Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.

Why You Need To Build Relationships As A Leader

About the Author Duncan Brodie

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