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Relationships Cannot Be Left To Chance

February 8, 1999

"Getting along with others in the right way is the hardest part of life.  The key is respect for the other person, nation, race, culture, or whatever is involved.  History, both personal and social, is about the conflict that results from lack of respect.

There are changing relationships in all aspects of life.  We as individuals relate to some people some of the time and to some people never.  We form paths of familiar activities that include those we like or need and we change those paths as we move through our lives.  About half the marriages these days end in divorce.  Old friends move away, and new friends are made.  Organizations join one another in work with varied results.

Relationships cannot be left to chance.  Organizational life consists of transactions and relationships.  If we are going to send someone something, or do something for someone, we have to have a relationship.  This means we must know the other party in a positive way, and that requires some work.  There is a courtship, a romance, and a continuing involvement.  A good relationship takes thought.

The thoughtful, relationship-oriented person in an organization may not always be the one with the most important title on the door or the one who dominates meetings.  It may not even be the person to whom others turn for action.  But in every successful organization there is at least one person who is oriented toward relationships and who guides others.  The official leader does well to identify and encourage this person (Crosby, 1996, pp. 49-50)."

Reference: Crosby, P.B. (1996).  The absolutes of leadership.  San Diego: Pfeiffer & Co.

Who is the relationship builder on your team?

* The Absolutes of Leadership is available on loan at the OSU Leadership Center.  A listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~leaders

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Created: 2009-01-06, Updated: 2009-01-18