Relationships is the Essence of Leadership

@LeadWithGiants A1. Leadership happens ONLY through relationships. So without relationships, there is no leadership. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@ChristopherinHR That's right, everything is relationships! #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@kingtrepreneur Well-said: "You can't lead yourself by yourself." #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

Leadership is about relationships, although relationships aren't necessarily about leadership. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants A1. Hmm, I'd probably choose Jack Welch, because he found a way to sustain success over decades at GE. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@CheriEssner Good one, Cheri! Gandhi was awesome. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants A3. The relationship becomes a personalized one and a learning experience.
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

A3 opens doors of infinite possibilities to engage in #infectious connections where we contribute to transforming our lives #leadwithgiants
— MR.Renaissance (@GauthierJohann) August 26, 2013

@mark_wager Ah, the Art of War! #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@mark_wager Sun Tzu was masterful and calculating, and he had a pulse on human nature like no other. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@jandis_price @DanVForbes Social media has made it quite apparent that knowing, liking, and trusting are crucial. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@ideabloke I tend to agree with you, Randy. Friendships between leaders and followers may be fraught with risks, too. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants A4. When the expectations of friendships clash with the mandate and objectives of leadership. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@deirdre_od2012 Yes, a leader ought to be friendly, but be cautious about forming friendships with his or her followers. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants A5. Showing genuine interest by asking questions, listening actively, and offering my 'two cents.' #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@AlexGaskins Yes! I think great minds think alike :) #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@TerriKlass @AlliPolin Good one, Alli. Just being myself helps a lot, and it's not a technique, really. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

A5 Seek to build relationships with Trust rather than Techniques. #LeadWithGiants
— Dan Forbes (@DanVForbes) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants A6. Dionne Warwick: "That's What Friends Are For" https://t.co/uTlkvJZdHO #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@TerriKlass @PengoMommy Oh, good one! "Apollo 13" was about superb, problem-solving leadership in a live-or-die situation. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants A7. Well, to me, they're the same. But some see networking as a business-card collection contest! #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@ebonieboy @KylePrisock Good proverb! #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@PengoMommy @DoughertyCarol Wow, very lyrical, Carol! Love it! #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@mslifeandstuff Good one, Wilda! Some people forget the latter, and they struggle to stay in. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants A8. Building relationships is the defining task of any leader, so it's vital indeed. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@mark_wager Relationships is the great enabler, isn't it. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@TheSmartChic I cannot emphasize that "must" enough, Cynthia! #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@DoughertyCarol @AlliPolin ... and therefore they are not leaders! #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants A9. Leaders without relationships is like multiplying any effort by zero :) #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants ... Which, BTW, I've called The Zero Factor! #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@jandis_price @PengoMommy Somehow, though, dictators do form relationships and gain followers (rf. Hitler, Hussain). #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@LeadWithGiants A10. When they protect me, even before I realize that I need protection. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@TerriKlass @DoughertyCarol Unfortunately, I know of leaders who will throw you under the bus (sigh)! #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

@changeguerilla I heard about a dog who got between a venomous snake and its owners, and died from the snake bite. #LeadWithGiants
— RonVillejoConsulting (@RonVillejoPhD) August 26, 2013

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!  Also, if you'd like a PDF of this article, please e-mail me at Ron.Villejo@ronvillejoconsulting.com.

Ron Villejo, PhD