Monday, August 10, 2015

Building A Foundation of Connections

Some days we go fast and then we go faster. Other days, it is just full warp speed through meeting after meeting with everything just being a blur. Whether you are in the fast lane or the warp speed lane, most days we as leaders struggle to keep up with the pace.

At times like this, we must focus on maintaining our clarity and holding on to our confidence. But, we also have to build and maintain healthy connections with others. These connections, be there personal, operational or strategic, are critical to surviving as a leader.

Hermania Ibarra in her book, Act Like A Leader, Think Like A Leader. Harvard Business Review Press, 2015, writes about the important of creating healthy networks. As she explains, leaders use networks as an essential leadership tool for sensing trends and seeing opportunities, building ties to opinion leaders and talent in diverse areas, working collaboratively across boundaries to create more value, avoiding groupthink, generating breakthrough ideas, and obtaining career opportunities.

This week, ask yourself the following question: “Am I building a healthy network of connections?” If yes, keep doing it. If not, then it is time to begin. The world will not get any slower if you live and work in the land of leadership.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

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