And then the sunbeams appeared!

It’s official. Building Big Relationships is a key aspect of outstanding leadership. We have been spreading this message for years and now it’s a key finding in The Work Foundation’s research into outstanding leadership. They write:

Outstanding leadership depends on trusting and positive relationships that are built over time for the long-term benefit of the people and their organisation. They spend a significant amount of time talking with people to understand what motivates them and how they can support and boost enthusiasm in others. They understand the power of trust to speed up interactions, enable people to take risks, diminish arguments or disputes and underpin innovation.

We all know it’s true. What’s it like when we’re working in our Big Relationships? As the research says, things happen faster, different points of view are acknowledged and worked through, and we are somehow bolder and ready to take more risks.

So celebrate those Big Relationships and this week identify one or two that aren’t as big as you’d like, go and have a conversation and take more steps towards being an outstanding leader with plenty of Big Relationships.

By Steve Radcliffe