Keith Ferrazzi

Anyone who read my earlier post is aware of how much I have been looking forward to hearing Keith Ferrazzi speak at HR Florida.  Keith presented one of the Masters’ Sessions entitled “Relationships for Group Success”.  He is the author of two bestselling books emphasizing the importance of relationships in our personal and professional lives.

Keith’s two hour presentation included several “group work” sessions in which we were encouraged to use his relationship development ideas.  Each attendee’s experience was affected by what they learned through listening and interacting with others. It has taken several days of reflection to summarize my “take homes.”  Here they are:

*Relationships are fundamental to our success!

*Deep social bonding among team members will result in greater success for the team.

*It is essential to develop a strategic plan for our lives.  What do we want to achieve in 30 days? 3 years? Long term? (We must know where we’re going before we can map out a route to get there.)

*Find two people with whom to develop “lifeline relationships.”  Lifeline Relationships incorporate peers who we care for and respect. These relationships should be mutually beneficial and include the core values of honesty, transparency, and accountability. (Note the concept of “mutual relationship” – people are not a commodity to be used and tossed aside.)

*Ask for help: “What do you see me doing that holds me back?” (Friends can help someone recognize and move beyond negative behaviors and subliminal patterns.)

*Remember feedback is a gift. It is information to be processed just like all other experience.  Take it or leave it, but always say “Thank you”. 

We often hear the saying – “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” There is some truth in this statement; we are who we are because of our relationships with others. The relationships we develop at work, chapter meetings, conferences, and volunteering in the community help us to grow personally and professionally.  In Human Resources, as in life, “what you know” is critical, but it is in relationships with others that we are able to leverage that knowledge to make a difference.