1. Engage
Take the time to introduce yourself to other leaders. Give them the opportunity to know you and for you to know them. Help them to learn to trust you, especially those around you, or do business in the same community. Be friendly and share with them your vision and listen to theirs. Ask questions, laugh, be open, and be sincere. Invite them to attend a networking event together.Be slow to speak and quick to listen. Learn about them, what is in their hearts, their concerns, weakness, and strengths, and let them know yours. People that know your heart will listen to you.
Do your best to attend different gatherings or networks where you can meet and connect with other leaders. This can be an opportunity to learn and discover different and innovative ways to grow your organization, or just to build healthy relationships.
Don’t be afraid to walk towards another leader and tell them who you are. Exchange business cards and ask for the opportunity to set up a meeting to know more about them and their vision.
It is important to be open and respectful of various opinions and outlooks. Connecting with people with diverse backgrounds and personalities will broaden your understanding and give you different perspectives. This will benefit your future planning on how to carry out your mission to reach more people.
2. Influence
Leaders of great influence have a servant’s heart. Serving other leaders does not minimize your position or your title. Instead, it develops your character and integrity. Use your influence rather than your authority. Challenge, motivate, uplift, empower, and encourage other leaders. If the answer of someone’s need is within your power or ability to help, be quick to extend your hand of support.
Leaders of great influence help others to solve problems, build their confidence, and discover their potential. They are excellent communicators, consistent, and treat other leaders as friends. They care for others, never looking for what they can take, but what they can give. Leaders always help others to grow in knowledge and understanding. They do what they say they will do.
Find it within yourself to have the initiative to organize events that will bring leaders together to meet, have fellowship, learn, and grow. Do so while keeping in mind that they are not there for you to teach them anything, but to love and serve them. Build a safe platform for them to find encouragement and strength.
3. Impact
Impactful leaders put others above their selves. They act with integrity and help others to stay focused on what matters. They are authentic, transparent, and real. They share what they have—their love, passion, wisdom, ideas, and skills. They give others a voice and invest in their relationships the time and money necessary because they know the importance of building relationships with other leaders.They lead by example by intentionally creating a legacy of love, kindness, and compassion for others to follow. They prioritize the care of their self, their families, their team, and their community’s needs. They are accountable to other team members and collaborate with other leaders by supporting their events.
When facing challenges, difficulties, or pressure, they keep their dignity and love. They are extremely respectful of others’ time and responsibilities. They know their purpose and discipline themselves to live on mission.
A True Story
A leader with his team opened a business across the street from another business that offered similar services to the same demographic. He came with the brilliant idea that he needed to go in person to the business across the street to meet the leader. He called his team for a meeting and told them that the plan to start their vision was to build relationships with the team members of the business competitor. He encouraged them to be friendly and respectful to them. His team could not understand this decision; they did not know how necessary it was to get along well with other leaders, especially those that are in your area.He did what he said he was going to do. He successfully introduced himself to the leader of the business across the street.
A week later, it was time to clean up the building to start the business. That leader, once again, went a mile further in building his relationship with the other leader. He instructed his team to go and ask permission to the leader across the street to clean up his building also, with an emphasis on his front lawn. The leader of the business across the street gladly accepted it, and at the end of that day, both businesses looked spectacular!
A day later, it was the “Grand Opening,” and this humble and kind leader not only brought lunch for his team, but for the leader across the street and his team also. They gladly accepted it. These intentional “good faith” steps to a build relationship among them did not stop there. The leader who initiated the contact and open lines of communication continues to nurture the relationship with the leader across the street and his team in many ways.
This part of the story will knock your socks off. Because of all that this leader did in pursuing that relationship, countless costumers came into business recommended by the competitor across the street. It became common to hear, “The business across the street sent me here. They thought you could help me.”
Never forget, it is extremely important to connect with other leaders, even those that have different backgrounds, opinions, and personalities. Showing them kindness, love, and respect will tremendously help your personal and organizational growth.
