The Power of Choice

6Leverage Relational Skills

YOU CAN WORK HARD, but you won't be valued as an integral part of your organization unless leaders and colleagues know who you are and are comfortable working with you. Teamwork, client service, information sharing, problem solving—all these activities require individuals to interact with one another productively and with as little friction as possible. Given the importance of these interpersonal activities in today's workplaces, people who have developed relational skills, who have the social grace to navigate a broad spectrum of interactions and create comfortable and trusting relationships, are the most sought after by leaders and coworkers. It's only through exposure and connections that others know to call upon you for your expertise. It's only through relationships that you learn whose influence and support can help you to accomplish an objective. And most important, relational skills enable you to work with others for mutual gains.

The guidelines in this chapter will enable you to be more strategic and intentional in how you expand the breadth and depth of your relationships in order to expand your opportunities and deepen your impact.

Connect with Others

Relationships don't happen automatically. You have to put effort into making connections. How much effort do you currently expend on creating relationships? Do folks inside and outside your organization know who you are and what you have to offer? Do you have people you can rely on for ...