#23 - The work relationships you need to pay attention to!
7 Aug 24
Identify the key relationships up, down and sideways.
Touch base with those people on a regular basis to ensure alignment, appreciation of each others challenges, and also to offer help if required.
Don't neglect the sideways relationships or get into unnecessary competition with your peers. That is wasted effort, and senior management will perceive that you are not a team player.
Use the relationship-building experience to broaden your Company knowledge. This will set you up for success when you are ready and/or being considered for the next promotional role!
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#23 - The work relationships you need to pay attention to!
What?
It's pretty obvious that relationships within each environment in which we operate play an important part in our lives. Whether that's in our personal lives or at work, it doesn't matter.
However, not all relationships are created equal. Some are more important and therefore more valuable than others.
And this necessitates deciding which relationships will take priority over others.
Why?
Within the work environment, there are key relationships which must be maintained. They must be maintained in order for you to be able to get stuff done.
So what relationships are they?
In order to answer this question, you need to look up, down and sideways and fully understand those interfaces.
You have finite energy and time. So it pays to conduct a full analysis of those interfaces which are likely to be worth the investment in your valuable time.
How?
Before you can triage a relationship, it must be made clear that each relationship should not just be analysed through the prism of 'today'.
But due regard should be made towards those relationships which are likely to be required in the future.
Similarly, relationships which are no longer regularly in use/dormant should be maintained. It's never wise to burn bridges!
So let's look at the key ones:
- Relationships Up - It goes without saying that a healthy relationship with your boss or the senior management team is hugely important. That is, if you want to get on within the Company. And management of your Line Manager is a key skill in itself,
- Relationships Down - Your team, since they are the ones that you need to lead in order to achieve your aims. No-one is an island and you can't achieve much as a singleton,
- Relationships Sideways - This is the one that people always forget. You must be able to collaborate with your peers in adjacent departments. There will be interactions and dependencies between you in both directions. Many people see their peers as a competitor since you tend to be the same grade. Therefore, you are automatically in competition and vying for the attention of the senior managers for promotion. Big mistake! The one who collaborates and seeks win-win solutions will always attract the attention and be considered a team player. Similarly, the one who always helps out and looks out for his peers will stand out. Additionally, having a broad knowledge of what every department does, how it all interacts, and how best to leverage joint capability for the benefit of the Company is always the wise approach to adopt. Broader knowledge leads to deeper Company knowledge which leads to sound preparation for those most senior roles.
So, how do you maintain these relationships?
Hard work!
That is making time to keep the relationship 'alive'. Listening to what they are saying, offering help and support.
In most cases, a regular programmed time slot to 'chew the fat' with each person is all that is required to ensure you are both aligned. It also minimises the chances that anyone feels that they have been blind-sided.
It is amazing what detail you are able to pick up, and more importantly, what disasters can be averted.
Just by talking to each other!
Give it a try, it will be the best investment you will make!
In Summary
I hope that you enjoyed reading this newsletter and that it has given you food for thought.
Identifying and maintaining key relationships is hard work. But the payback is more than worth the effort.
It will make your job easier in the long run and mark you out as a team player!
Have a great week!
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