Building doesnt start with I

Build strong working relationships with these tips. Having trouble viewing this email? Click here A question we get often is, how can I best build relationships with my employees – especially if I’m new, and they aren’t?  Dale Carnegie wrote in How to Win Friends and Influence People (a book worth reading for a far more complete answer to this question), "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."  At work we may not be trying to "make friends" but we could replace this with "build relationships" and the point would be the same. If you want to build relationships, focus on the other person, not yourself.  Make them and their needs the focus of your attention.  While this may seem paradoxical, for far more reasons that I have time to describe here, it is profoundly true. Specifically to the question, you might not know how you can help them if you are new, or you don’t know how to get started.  Here is your answer: Get started. Talk to people and start asking them questions.  Look for ways to better understand their groups and their challenges.  Find connections between you and them.  Make the conversation and questions about them.  Doing this will very likely lead to people interested in sharing, and in building relationships. Beyond this basic premise, apply what you already know about building relationships.  People want to be led by people they trust; so be trustworthy.  People want to be listened to and valued. Talk less, listen more. Ask more, assert less. And let them know that building a strong working relationship is important to you – and they will likely reciprocate. When I get this question, my biggest piece of advice is don’t worry about seniority, rank, politics, or being cautious. Go do what you already know works.   Kevin Eikenberry Chief Potential Officer The Kevin Eikenberry Group   p.s. Building relationships and managing others is particularly difficult when you're a new leader, and even more so when it's with employees who were once peers. Bud to Boss was designed to equip new leaders with the tools to succeed right from the start. Learn more about what Bud to Boss can do for you or your new supervisors here. Building relationships and managing others is particularly difficult when you're a new leader, and even more so when it's with employees who were once peers. Bud to Boss was designed to equip new leaders with the tools to succeed right from the start. Learn more about what Bud to Boss can do for you and your new supervisors here. Here's a look at some of our upcoming events... Orlando: Dec. 9-10 San Diego: Jan. 15-16 Houston: Jan. 23-24 Indianapolis: Feb. 12-13 Atlanta: Feb. 27-28 Boston: Mar. 6-7 Chicago: Mar. 20-21 San Francisco: Apr. 8-9 Orlando: Apr. 24-25 Cincinnati: May 8-9 Dallas: May 22-23 Nashville: June 3-4 Seattle: June 19-20 This email was sent to this address: alanrussell@princetoncap.com Update My Contact Information | Unsubscribe   The Kevin Eikenberry Group | 8021 Westover Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268 United States | (317) 387-1424