Here is another hard truth about leadership and building better business relationships: Seeking recognition as “The Boss” is usually a function of either fear or ego (or both); each of which inhibit your ability to be an effective leader.
We’ve all worked with such a person – well, FOR such a person – because “with” is far too kind a word for anyone who uses the old-school type of communication: “Because I’m The Boss and I said so!” (Usually at very high volume, right?)
This type of “Leadership” creates a toxic work environment, literally forcing employees to disengage and
give up on being productive. The emotional toll this behaviour takes leads to constant turnover while causing everyone to lose respect for their employer or manager.
Relationship Mastery – A Case Study
The following is a very quick example of a team leader who decided to take the bull by the horns and become a Master of Positive Influence.
A former client practiced Relationship Recovery talks with her direct reports for two months. It was not a comfortable experience at first, and she thought she might come across as weak. Despite her reservations, she quickly realized that this step enhanced her reputation as a strong leader, created an empowering environment for her team, AND stopped the energy drain of self-defeating talks.
She was pleasantly surprised to see that after just two short months, her 360-feedback report reflected a positive change!
Why did this approach to building better business relationships work so well? Because this leader:
- Let her team know she sees them as her most valuable asset.
- Went out of her way to spend time with her team, showing a genuine interest in them.
- Became a catalyst for positivity and growth.
- Cared about them and their legacy – that others might remember them as being the best they could be.
- Showed her team that she expected high performance from them and, by her actions, of herself.
Negativity begets negativity while positivity does the opposite. The team leader described above was able to set aside her fear and ego to create a positive, informative experience with her team. The result was a team of remarkably engaged employees who were eager to work with her to reach the goals and objectives they had set for success.
Business Relationship Tips for Leaders
The best leaders are by nature positive influences on those around them, especially their team. While not every person is born this way, the good news is that a positive outlook and mindset can be learned.
Below is a minimal list of positive leadership characteristics:
- Be personal and professional, not formal
- Express sincere interest in others
- Put your communication skills to work: ask questions and ignite engaging conversations
- Practice active listening
- Practice recovery talks
- Learn how to give feedback that empowers and inspires action, not resistance
If you find yourself struggling to create a positive work environment for your team, or if you can’t seem to find engaged employees, it’s time to begin working on your emotional intelligence and building better business relationships.
Still have questions about EI and the path toward better leadership? Click here for your FREE 50-Minute Discovery Call.
