The Bullseye Principle

Chapter 6Build RelationshipsMaking Connections, Establishing Trust, and Earning Respect

If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

—AFRICAN PROVERB

Teddy Roosevelt once said, “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is the knack of getting along with people.”¹ We all present ourselves on a daily basis by interacting with those around us—during meetings, while attending a church service, or even while waiting for yoga class to begin. Each of these meetings or interactions are important because they provide an opportunity to build a new relationship or strengthen an old one. Some of this communication is personal, some is professional, and some is a mixture of both. But no matter what your role or industry, being able to develop trust, listen actively, and show genuine concern for others will serve you well in your career and life. In the end, people need to feel safe and supported to do their best work. This means being respected, valued, and heard by management and anyone else with whom they interact on a daily basis.

Business relationships, like all other relationships, need to be established, developed, and maintained. They need to be based on trust and consistency and both parties should feel their interactions will provide mutual benefit to all involved. The information age in which we live provides many exciting opportunities for connection but also some distinct challenges. Being hyper-connected through our smart phones ...