Building collaborative relationships

I'm a proponent of "management by walking around", a routine of walking around the office, greeting and chatting with the people you encounter along the walk (and with budgets tightening, it's a FREE culture-building approach!). What starts as general kindness, over time often leads to vibrant connections that invite in opinions, perspectives, and new ideas. A natural morning person, I often walked the halls of my corporate office early in the mornings, using these chance encounters with team members to hear informal project updates and where they were struggling or learn of a success that I could highlight in a meeting later that day or take in a suggestion to make our work environment better. Amidst the relative silence of these morning walks when we weren't fully 'armored up' for the day yet, I also heard about incredible vacations being planned, the hot new lunch spot, and challenging caregiving responsibilities. Trust is foundational to relationships that promote collaboration, and making time for others builds trust. (Not back in the office? Try hosting agenda-free virtual 'office hours', sending a chat saying "Hi, I'm thinking of you, what's got your attention today?", or picking up the phone to share "I'm thinking of you" to open doors for connection.)

Free Coaching: How would you describe your current relationships with others on your team at all levels?

Maintaining a healthy relationship network will help you and your organization deliver on the goals set. A coach can help you consider additional ways to build collaborative relationships for leadership at the next level. Don't become isolated, let's chat!

Let's chat!