How to Effectively Build and Maintain Positive Relationships

Being a leader in today’s organizations is not just about managing tasks, achieving goals, and hitting the KPIs; there is an expectation from the people who work for you to have a positive, reciprocating relationship. A successful leader knows how to balance authority with empathy, ensuring that their team feels valued and motivated. Here are some key strategies to help you be a more effective “boss” while maintaining positive relationships:

1. Practice Active Listening

Active listening is a crucial skill for any leader. It involves fully focusing and concentrating on the discussion, understanding what you are hearing, and responding and engaging with your team members. When you listen actively, you show your team that you value their opinions and are open to their ideas, and this creates a sense of trust and respect. Make sure to:

• give your full attention to the speaker.

• avoid interrupting.

• rephrase to summarize what you've heard.

• ask questions to ensure you understand the speaker’s message.

2. Embrace Servant Leadership

Servant leadership is a philosophy where the leader's primary goal is to serve their team. This “of-service” leadership approach focuses on the growth, well-being, and support of your team. This often means putting your team's needs first, which can be a major mindset shift for some leaders. Key aspects of servant leadership include:

• Empowering team members to make decisions.

• Providing the necessary resources and support.

• Encouraging personal and professional development.

• Recognizing and celebrating achievements.

• Making decisions and taking action that benefit the team and not just yourself.

• Providing consistent feedback, both positive and developmental.

3. Foster People Connections

Building strong connections with your team members is essential for maintaining positive relationships. When you take the time to get to know your team on a personal level, you create a sense of camaraderie and trust. Here are some ways to foster people connections:

• Schedule regular one-on-one meetings to discuss both work-related and personal topics.

• Organize team-building activities and social events.

• Show genuine interest in your team members' lives outside of work.

• If in an office, proactively stop by people’s offices or work areas to check in.

• If virtual, randomly call or message your team to check in and be sure to schedule regular video one-on-ones.

4. Communicate Transparently

Transparent communication is vital for building trust and maintaining positive relationships with your team. Keep your team informed about important decisions, changes, and updates. Be honest about challenges and setbacks and involve your team in problem solving. Transparent communication helps to:

• build trust and credibility.

• build a culture of caring and inclusion.

• reduce misunderstandings and conflicts.

• provide open and honest feedback, both positive and constructive.

• create a collaborative work environment.

5. Lead by Example

As a boss, your actions set the tone for your team. Leading by example means demonstrating the behaviors and attitudes you expect from your team members. Remember that your team is always watching your leadership, even when you don’t think they are. Here are some behaviors that we see from some of the best leaders:

• Showing respect, empathy, and humility.

• Being accountable for their actions.

• Maintaining a positive attitude.

• Demonstrating a strong work ethic.

• Having a willingness to do some of the tasks that they are asking their team to do.

• Acting in the same ways, even when nobody is looking.

So, flex your authority when you need to but be sure to invest time in building relationships with the leadership behaviors, attributes, and strategies discussed above. While these recommendations may seem simple and fundamental, our experience is that many leaders drift from the fundamentals of leadership as they focus on and react to the busyness of the day.  We also know the stronger the relationships, the higher the trust, the better the communication, and collaboration, and the more discretionary effort will be cultivated.  If you would like to discuss how to prioritize relationship-building time, learn how to improve your relationship-building skills, or discuss any of these strategies, we would love to talk with you. We are only a phone call, email, or submitted-contact form away. Here’s to your leadership success!

By: Matt Francoeur