It's all about relationships! Yeah, sure it is.

Colleagues,

MVP: Collegial relationships are workplace relationships that have both social and professional components.
 
This week we are digging into the R word – relationships. “It’s all about relationships” is both a cliché, and a truth. But what do we actually mean? What do good relationships look like between leaders and those they serve? Most importantly, how do we build those relationships? There are books on the subject, but we will try and keep things simple and actionable. Each email compliments the previous ones but is not dependent on them.
 
Today we will set the stage for understanding relationships.
 
Leading others is inherently ethical work and when we talk about relationships as a component of influencing people (that’s what leadership is – influence), then we have an obligation to keep them safe and help them grow.
 
Relationships in the workplace take three basic forms:

• Congenial: people share a social bond
• Pragmatic: people share a professional bond
• Collegial: people share professional and social bonds

 
The problem with congenial relationships is that while they make people happy, they don’t help us achieve the organizational purpose.
 
The problem with pragmatic relationships is that they only work well for some people. 
 
Collegial relationships thus have two elements – professional and social. The ratios of each will vary, but both are present. 
 
Cheers!
 
Frederick