Horstman's
Invisible Third Law
There
is an actual third law*, but the first two are so important, when they
combine, alchemy happens. #1: It's All About People. (Frustrating, but
true). #2: More Communication Is Better.
What's
the alchemy? Relationships.
Thus Horstman's Invisible Third Law:
Relationships
Matter. I often say if I
could only teach one thing to
managers, it would be one on ones. But if I could only teach one thing
to young professionals,
it would the Invisible Third Law. I KNOW that
college kids everywhere are sitting next to their friends in class, and
"hanging out", only to lose track of those folks within WEEKS of
school. And later, they're going to want to know someone somewhere, and
they would have, had they
maintained the relationship.
For
managers,
here's what I think is an even more powerful reason to work
on relationships: there are only three types of power: role, expertise
and relationship. If you don't start working on relationships now,
developing those skills, you won't HAVE the relationships you need, nor
have the SKILLS to create them, when you become an executive. And
being
an executive is ALL ABOUT relationships with other executives.
And if
you are already are an executive,
teach your managers how to do this, and share your network with them.
This
week's plea (one we've made before!): please
start reconnecting with friends and old associates now (holidays might
help), and work on strengthening the ones you have now.
Both the people you know and the skills you use relating to them are
critical to a successful professional life.
[* - My
actual 3rd Law is You're Not That Smart, and They're Not That Dumb. In
other words, assume people are smart, because they usually are.]
Becoming
The Favorite
We
post
a question on our Facebook page each week on Tuesday. From 'Do you
twitter?' to 'What other websites do you find most useful?' each question
gets a wide range of answers. A couple of weeks ago, the question was:
Your favorite direct: why is he/she the favorite?
The
answers are a fascinating guide to what makes a great direct: a can do
attitude, a desire for feedback and self-driven to learn.
You
can
read the rest of the answers and join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ManagerTools
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