People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:
- Uncommon Leader Insights – In Episode 78 of the Uncommon Leader Podcast, Barb Betts discussed the power of authentic relationships. As leaders, our ability to manage, nurture, and leverage relationships is the cornerstone of sustainable success. Here are three pivotal takeaways from our insightful conversation.
Build relationships: Barb underscored the significance of authenticity in relationship marketing, emphasizing the transition from transactional connections to genuine engagements. Shifting the request from “referrals” to “introductions,” Barb offers a fresh perspective that fosters trust and ease in business interactions. It’s not merely about the number of connections but the depth of trust within them—the kind that sparks natural advocacy for your brand.
Spend time with people you want to be in a relationship with: Refresh your outlook on life’s memberships, Barb advises. Audit the people and activities commanding your time—is there reciprocity in value and growth? It’s a potent reminder to value oneself, set boundaries, and courageously detach from relationships that no longer align with our personal or business trajectory. This practice is a testament to self-respect and the foundation of attracting like-minded individuals and clients.
Who you are is who you attract: Finally, Barb shared her journey from “Barb 1.0” to “Barb 2.0,” a transformation marked by greater transparency, comfort in vulnerability, and the power of saying no. This personal evolution not only enriched her individuality but also her professional presence, setting a new standard for the relationships she harbors. It’s an inspiring call to leaders to embrace self-reinvention that resonates and reverberates through every layer of their interactions.
Barb Betts’ mastery of relationship building offers great wisdom—wisdom that when integrated, promises an invigorating shift in how we engage with our networks. Whether you’re a leader in real estate or any sector, the principles Barb shared are universally applicable: authentic relationships, truthful self-assessment, and ongoing self-evolution are the pillars upon which legendary leaders are built.
Listen to the full episode here. Follow Barb Betts here.
Are you aware that The Champions Brew explores various topics that I frequently coach and consult on with other leaders and organizations? If you or someone you know is seeking to elevate their business or personal life from underperforming to uncommon, I would love to connect with you and discuss 1:1 or group coaching, as well as performance consulting. In fact, click the following link to schedule a FREE CALL to explore how coaching could benefit you and your team. Let’s work together to unleash your full potential and achieve your goals
- Work Hard AND Love Always – As I recently completed the thought-provoking masterpiece, “Uncommon Greatness – Five Fundamentals to Transform Your Leadership,” by the brilliant Mark Miller, I couldn’t help but be captivated by his profound insights. In fact, I had the privilege of interviewing him for the upcoming episode of the Uncommon Leader Podcast, set to release this week. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!
Valuing results AND relationships is a fundamental pillar identified by Miller in his book. He says that “If you want to discover and realize the full potential of your team or organization, you MUST embrace both results AND relationships” (emphasis added). These words hold the key to unlocking unparalleled leadership prowess.
Miller keenly recognizes that leaders often lean towards being more results-oriented or relationship-oriented. While this isn’t inherently problematic, it becomes crucial for leaders to acknowledge their bias and compensate accordingly. To bridge the gap, he offers practical practices to adopt. For the results-oriented, engaging in relationship-building activities such as writing notes of appreciation can foster connection. On the other hand, relationship-oriented leaders can benefit from setting tangible goals and scheduling regular team sessions to review and align their progress.
It’s important to acknowledge that tension naturally exists between results and relationships. Rather than attempting to eliminate it, Miller encourages us to manage it skillfully. Within this tension lies the growth potential. Embrace it, harness it, and watch your leadership soar to new heights.
To delve deeper into the wisdom shared by Mark Miller, I highly recommend picking up a copy of “Uncommon Greatness.” And, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast here so that you can catch the full interview when it releases. Get ready to embark on a transformative journey of exceptional leadership and meaningful relationships.
Quality #15 – Relationships
If You Get Along, They’ll Go Along
In Chapter 15, Maxwell outlined the subject of Relationships.
As I reflect on this chapter, a powerful quote resonates within me: “Life is Relationships. The rest is just details.” I can vividly recall the day when my dear friend and mentor, Stan Buck, delivered this timeless message on a Sunday, April 23, 2006. Though Stan departed this world prematurely, the impact he had on my faith and leadership journey remains enduring. Drawing from Matthew 22:37-39, where we are called to love God and our neighbors: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Stan’s message was crystal clear: relationships are not optional. To achieve meaningful outcomes, we must extend our reach beyond ourselves and become adept at building genuine connections. After all, we were designed to thrive in relationship with others. So, how do we enhance our relationships? Here are a few ways:
- Improve your mind – If your ability to relate to people needs improvement, then like any other skill, you must study the subject. Whenever I think about resources on relationships, my mind goes to Dale Carnegie’s book that has sold tens of millions of copies, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Start there.
- Strengthen your heart – Shifting the focus away from ourselves is crucial if we aspire to cultivate greater care and empathy towards others. Allow me to share an enlightening anecdote from a friend who experienced a transformative moment of self-reflection. He received feedback that struck a chord within him: he was told that he saw “numbers, rather than faces.” This profound insight opened his heart to the importance of nurturing relationships. It serves as a powerful reminder that waiting for the perfect moment or the right mood to care for others is not fruitful. Instead, let us proactively choose to prioritize and invest in the well-being of those around us, regardless of our current feelings or circumstances.
- Be intentional – Do you want to get better at relationships? Look back at your calendar over the last 30 days. How much time is invested in intentional relationship building? If you want to get better at relationships, you must invest the time to help them grow. Who do you need to check in with this week and have a virtual coffee?
While someone can have people skills and not be a good leader, you cannot be a good leader without people skills. The ability to work with and through other people is indispensable to effective leadership.
Next week: Responsibility
Quote of the week: “If you want others to like you, if you want to develop real friendships, if you want to help others at the same time as you help yourself, keep this principle in mind: Become genuinely interested in other people.” – Dale Carnegie
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: To grow your influence and build relationships, you must be intentional. Do you want to have a positive influence on the life of someone else? When was the last time you made a call- or wrote a letter – to someone who could use a lift in their life? When was the last time you did something that will forever be a positive memory in someone’s life? When was the last time you were an encourager for someone else? Life has enough memories of the tough kind. Why not create a few good ones?
It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”. Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.
Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!
P.S. – Are you a podcast fan? Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you. Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast? Do you have a story to tell? Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!
