This week our discussion on the importance of Relationship Leadership concludes with the focus on building trust-based partnerships, internally and externally.

Mutual trust and respect is at the heart of all effective working relationships. As a leader, it makes good sense then to realize that in order to build effective partnerships with those who work for you, alongside you, or above you, you must focus on establishing trusting relationships.

Build Trust-Based Partnerships, Internally and Externally

“Why doesn’t everyone in our organization have the same sense of urgency as I do? “ Where is the accountability?” “All I ever hear are excuses.” These are just some of the thoughts and frustrations that leaders share with us when we begin leadership development engagements. Our answer is always the same. In order to build a sense of urgency and accountability, everyone in the organization must be on the same page. The only way to create this sense of teamwork and shared responsibility is by establishing trust-based partnerships with everyone in your organization – direct reports, peer leaders, suppliers, and customers.

A partnership is formed when two or more people have a common set of goals and realize that their best chance to achieve results is through collaboration. When those building blocks are established, trust begins to grow. Each person in the partnership takes ownership for his/her part in the organization. At that point, accountability for delivering expected results is a given. You don’t want to let your partners down!

Here are the three keys to creating effective trust-based partnerships:

Frame Your Values – The leader and his/her partners have to frame their relationship around a common set of values. Each person openly discusses what is important to him/her and consistently stays true to the values that are shared by the partners. These values form the foundation for the partnership. Staying true to those values provides the strength for that partnership.

Show that You Care – The leader needs to clearly demonstrate that he/she is just as concerned about his/her partners’ success as his/her own. Taking the time to get to know a partner’s needs and interests strengthens the relationship. Listening, communicating, and doing what you can to meet your partners’ needs goes a long way toward maintaining a trusting relationship.

Deliver on the Shared Vision – The final bond that seals a trust-based partnership is delivering results. Nothing does more for a partnership than the successful feeling of being a part of a winning team. When each partner gets as much or more out of a relationship as he/she puts in it, the partnership endures.

Leaders who build trust-based partnership in all aspects of their business are able to create high-performing organizations. Do you have these kinds of partnerships with your employees, peers, suppliers, and customers?

Visit our blog next week as we begin the discussion on Organizational Leadership.

Tags: Five Key Drivers of High Performance, High-Performance Leadership Model, Relationship Leadership

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 10:45 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.