Counter-intuitive skills required for building relationship power

by Mike McGrann, Executive Director of the S. Dale High Center for Family Business

If you want:

• To be heard, you must first be willing to listen.

• To be trusted, you must first be willing to show that you trust.

• Others take responsibility for their part, you must first take responsibility for your part.

• A team that is willing to change, you must demonstrate that it is okay to fail.

• To improve communication in your team, you must surface conflict.

• To influence, you must first be willing to be influenced.

• To be viewed as a strong leader, you must demonstrate humility.

Mike's Bottom Line: Power has to be earned, and the route to earning it may neither be easy nor obvious. As far as relationships go, the effort, however counterintuitive, is worth your investment.