In Economics class in secondary, we remember the teacher sharing us this adage: “Give man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” This is why it is important for business leaders to mentor the people he works with.
How do we do this?
The first step in improving another is to accept him as he is. Business leaders should affirm a person’s potential. Leaders should have faith in his people and treat them in terms of their potentials. We need to have respect and trust. Our trust should be strong in order to have effective communication. Politics has no place if we want trustworthiness. We do not give up on our people. Constant motivation should be the battlecry. Leaders should spend time observing people and figuring out what drive them.
If we hope for good long-term relationships with colleagues/ employees, we need to have integrity and strength of character. Charm and intimidation do not last.
Business leaders must have the ability to make and keep promises and to honor commitments.
Other ways to develop good working relationships include:
- Helping to create a can-do culture boost morale and motivation
- encouraging staff to be your ambassadors
- help the organization learn
Indeed, the only way an organization could survive and prosper was to get people to work hard and work together.