Think back to the last big project you accomplished at work. The one that you have listed at the very top of your resume. Did you do it all by yourself? Or did you enlist the help of others?
Success in any field, but especially in business, is about working with people, not against them.
Never Eat Alone
Every significant project I’ve ever accomplished at work was only possible because of the generous help of my colleagues. Each success was the product of personal connections who cared enough to lend me their support. It’s a valuable reminder that career success always follows from a focus on we rather than on me.
Business is a human enterprise. Decisions to make a deal, buy a product, or promote an employee, are all determined by people. The bottom line is that relationships matter regardless of what industry or job title we find ourselves in.
And those relationships become even more significant as we grow in our careers. Each new year, as the scope of our responsibilities increase, the challenges we face will get more difficult. Decisions will get harder, and the stakes will be higher. In each case, having a trusted network of people who you can lean on for support becomes your most valuable career asset.
The rising stars in any organization are often the most well connected. They build a proven track record of getting things done not because they are smarter or more clever than everyone else, but because they are able to draw upon a reliable and trusted network of associates to help them solve problems when they arise.
Now is the time to start investing in relationships. Over time, a strong network will become our most valuable career asset. We need to invest in those relationships today if we hope to reap the unexpected benefits tomorrow.
So how do we start building those connections?
Building a valuable network starts by genuinely caring for other people. That means you stop keeping score. Give generously and provide value without expecting anything in return.
Give of yourself first. Solve other people’s problems. Be interested in the lives of your coworkers. Share their joys and empathize with their frustrations.
Many people think the way to build a network is by managing transactions. They try to schmooze your way to the top by using people as a means to an end.
But they’re missing the point.
Connecting with other people cannot be reduced to a transaction. Real networks are built by focusing on relationships. Nobody gets to the top by themselves. Invest in your future by first investing in your relationships.
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