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No leader succeeds alone. Successful leaders excel when they are embedded in a network of other leaders, so it's crucial to establish those connections. Your leadership network should include people you look up to as well as the ones you are developing as the next generation. They are the people who will spread the word, for good or ill, about your calibre as a leader. So how do you build a first-class leadership network? Here are the best lessons I've learned. In deciding who to include in your leadership network, be selective and think across many different dimensions. The goal is to create a partnership of like minds, a set of concentric circles that gradually expand to create your network. Soul mates and storytellers. Start with the people you are closest to-the ones who know your spirit, your struggles, strengths and successes. You may have only a few soul mates in your life. When you find one, hang on to them at all costs. Special versions of these are people who may not be like you but who appreciate you, your story and your journey. Mentors and mentees. Mentors create space for you to explore potential and opportunities as well as provide spiritual and emotional support. Mentees help you articulate and at the same time reinforce your own leadership lessons. These relationships are long-term, mutual commitments based on push and pull, seek and guide, explore and achieve, stretch and support. When you meet people you admire as leaders and see a chance to learn from them, jump at the opportunity. There's no better way to learn than through the eyes of wisdom from experience. Sharing intellectual capital is a potent means of developing relationships and getting to know how someone thinks and is being personally and professional accelerating. Building and nurturing a network is a constant process of give and take, investing and gaining rewards. Leaders have a finely honed respect for humanity. British Petroleum's Sir John Brown looks for the three H's in his leaders: humanity, humility and humour. Successful leaders work hard at earning the respect of others. So be authentic and transparent, show others respect, and demonstrate that you can earn it through your own trustworthiness. This ranges from simple things like the ability to listen to showing a touch of class in how you communicate or present yourself. Sow and reap. Part of building great relationships involves recognizing that there are times in life, careers and relationships when you want to invest and give without expecting anything in return. In other words sow into other's lives. There are also times-such as crises or great opportunities-when you should focus on reaping from what others have sown into your life.
Ron Jensen refers to these as part of building team unity. They apply to building your support and growth networks also. They provide the foundation and motivation for building these "right" relationships so that others can speak into your life, and you also in turn can speak into others' lives. God meant for us to relate intimately, it was the Creators intention…. |
