Building Strong Leader-Member Relationships at Work

Building stronger workplace relationships is easier than you think. Here's what actually works (after 10+ years in team management): 1️⃣ Start with genuine curiosity - Ask about their projects - Listen more than you speak - Remember personal details they share 2️⃣ Create connection points - Schedule regular coffee chats - Join or start team activities - Offer help before they ask 3️⃣ Practice professional empathy - Acknowledge their challenges - Celebrate their wins (big and small) - Be reliable with commitment 4️⃣ Foster open communication - Share knowledge freely - Give credit where it's due - Address issues directly, but kindly 5️⃣ Respect boundaries - Keep work conversations professional - Don't force social interactions - Honor their time and space The key? Consistency in these actions. These aren't just "nice to have" practices. They're essential for creating a workplace where everyone thrives. Remember: Strong workplace relationships aren't built overnight. But small, daily actions make a huge difference. Try these today. Your future self (and team) will thank you. 📌 Share if you know someone who could use these tips P.S. Which of these will you try first? Drop a comment below. #employees #workplace #team

When Maria took over a global team scattered across time zones and cultures, collaboration was minimal, and trust was fragile. Fast forward one year — that same team launched two major projects ahead of schedule, with record engagement and zero turnover. The shift? Maria made relationship-building a leadership priority — not a "soft skill" to be sidelined. The Lesson? Strong relationships aren't just feel-good perks — they’re the invisible engine behind high performance, resilience, and innovation. Common Relationship-Building Pitfalls: 📍 Transactional Interactions — Focusing only on tasks, not people. 📍 Poor Listening — Hearing words, but missing emotions and intent. 📍 Neglecting One-on-One Time — Teams feel like cogs, not humans. 📍 Avoiding Difficult Conversations — Letting issues fester instead of building trust through honesty. 📍 Blurry Boundaries — Bringing work stress into personal relationships. ✅ How to Build Meaningful Connections as a Leader: 📍 Active Listening — Give full attention, ask clarifying questions, reflect what you hear. 📍 Specific Recognition — “Good job” is forgettable. Tailored praise is powerful. 📍 Regular One-on-One Check-ins — Go beyond tasks to understand motivations and challenges. 📍 Handle Conflict with Care — Clarity + Empathy = Trust during tough conversations. 📍 Prioritize Personal Relationships — Boundaries, presence, and vulnerability matter. Relationships aren’t distractions from leadership — they’re at the heart of it. 📩 Get practical leadership strategies every Sunday in my free newsletter: CATAPULT. 🧑💻 Want to become the best LEADERSHIP version of yourself in the next 30 days? Book a 1:1 Growth Strategy Call: https://lnkd.in/gVjPzbcU #Leadership #TeamCulture #RelationshipBuilding #ExecutiveCoaching #FutureOfWork

A few years back, my company CEO said to me: "Your team works for you more than they work for the company." 😲 That was a humbling moment that generated a huge sense of responsibility in me to be the leader my team deserved. Leadership is not just a title. It's a responsibility to inspire, empower, and elevate those around you. I reflected on my leadership style and talked with my team members to determine what they need in a manager to establish the pillars upon which strong leadership is built. 💪 1️⃣ It Starts with Authenticity If you don't have this one, you should stop reading here. Our world is filled with facades, imposters, and life-highlight reels that feel forced. Just as genuine people, authentic leaders shine through. Embrace your true self at work by being transparent, vulnerable, and fearless to build credibility and inspire others to follow your lead. Pro Tip: Share your personal and professional journey openly to build trust and human connection with your teams. You don't have to share everything, but personal stories help humanize you to your team members. 2️⃣ Practice Empathy True leaders understand that people are at the heart of every team and foundational to an organization. By listening to the needs, fears, and aspirations of your team, you will foster a culture of trust, open communication, and loyalty. Pro tip: Set aside time in your one-on-one meetings with team members to truly connect and understand their perspectives. Ask open-ended questions and give them the space to share their thoughts and experiences. 3️⃣ Advocate for Your People Great leaders tirelessly advocate for the people on their teams. Be a champion for their ideas, remove obstacles, and secure the resources they need to be successful. Fighting for your team demonstrates your commitment to their growth and development. Pro Tip: Be a visible and vocal supporter of your team's accomplishments both individually and in group settings. Give them the opportunity to share their successes in group settings and take the opportunity to give public recognition. You can level up even further by giving awards. 4️⃣ Trust Your Team Trust is the bedrock of any successful relationship, including with the people on your team. When leaders trust their employees, they create a ripple effect of empowerment, innovation, and loyalty. Trust that you can delegate responsibilities, give autonomy, provide support, and empower them to think critically, take risks, and find creative solutions. Pro Tip: Delegate tasks and empower your team to show your trust in their abilities. As for their input on strategy, messaging to your own leaders. Just don't forget to credit them for their work 🙂 Trust me when I say that if you embody these principles, you will cultivate a team dynamic that will achieve extraordinary results. What type of leadership qualities do you value most? #leadership #empathy #authenticity #curiosity #support #trust #business #inspiration

Your influence is only as powerful as the relationships you build. If you think success is a solo journey, think again—because your real strength lies in your circle of influence. So, how do you expand that circle? It starts with investing in the people around you and building a culture of collaboration, trust, and accountability. We've all heard the saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." The myth of individual achievement is deeply ingrained, but true success—especially in leadership—is never a solo act. The real power comes from the collective strength of the people around you. Even when we accomplish something great through significant personal effort, we rarely do it entirely alone. There are always people contributing to that success, whether directly or indirectly. This is why the most valuable investment a leader can make is in their circle of influence—the people whose success and collaboration directly impact their own. When I say "circle of influence," I'm referring to: * The people we report to, * The people who report to us, and * Our cross functional peers we work most closely with. These relationships are the foundation of our success, and they require our full attention. One of our primary responsibilities as leaders is to spend the necessary time developing and nurturing these essential relationships. If we believe we don't have time for that, then we don't have time to do our jobs How do we effectively invest in our teams? Start by addressing problems quickly and directly. Our natural inclination is to protect ourselves first by avoiding conflict. But avoiding conflict only creates unresolved issues that fester and weaken trust. Instead, tackle problems head-on with openness and honesty and you'll find that conflicts are resolved more quickly, and trust within the team gets stronger. Next, make it a priority to help others on your team be their best. Do this as often as possible. Identify the barriers between your team and its key objectives, and then work collaboratively to eliminate them. Leaders who consistently focus on solving problems for their team build a culture of support and empowerment. Finally, recognize that your ability to deliver results consistently will solidify your influence within your circle. Being known as a leader who reliably accomplishes what needs to get done builds your credibility. When you deliver what you promise, you don't just influence outcomes—you inspire others to raise their own performance and contribute to the team's overall success. Once you commit to the success of those around you, you'll never look back. Leadership is about growing your influence through the success of others. Ask yourself: "Are you building the kind of relationships that fuel collective success, or are you limiting your growth by trying to go it alone?" #Leadership #Execution #Relationships #Success

🏀 "We have to build relationships to build on relationships." I had the chance to talk to Head Coach Gordon Herbert, who led Germany’s basketball team to World Cup victory, about how to build a real team, and his words have really stuck with me! As a leader and founder, I know this is true. I even teach it: the foundation of leadership is people, and success is built on the strength of our relationships. Yet, even though I know this, I find myself struggling to live it consistently. It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day hustle of building a company, scaling up, and chasing goals. And sometimes, I catch myself realizing that I haven’t reached out enough, haven’t checked in with some team members, and haven’t been as present as I should be. Especially as our team grows, I notice moments where I’m not 100% sure how someone’s doing or if they feel supported. As leaders, we often tell ourselves that we are there for our people—but am I truly supporting them in the way they need me most? Gordon Herbert’s quote hits hard because it reminds me that relationships don’t just happen. You have to invest in them. It means making the first step, even when you’re unsure if it will lead to a strong connection. It means being intentional about sitting down with your people, listening—really listening to understand—and showing up, not just when things are going well but when they get tough. I’ve come to realize that (again), I need to continuously reallocate time for my team. Leadership is about being there— as someone who truly listens and supports! Because, in the end, it’s all about the people—and that’s something I’m learning (and re-learning) every day.