Bridges

#Beingaleader means you need to build bridges. To others. For others. To build bridges means to help you or your team or someone you are working with to see an opposing point of view or a different way of doing things. Sometimes it’s a communication style. Sometimes it’s a different way of prioritizing. Sometimes you use the same words but mean different things. You as the leader need to build bridges between disparate groups.

Sometimes it means you have to reach out (proactively) to another department when there appears to be a misunderstanding or strife. Get ahead of it. Find the communicators and try to find out what they meant in an objective way (i.e., without the recipient’s emotion). It’s not about who is right and who is wrong. It’s about finding a way to work together and that requires communication that is understood.

Sometimes it is thrust upon you in a moment of crisis or conflict. I’ve seen conflict arise simply due to misunderstanding between communication styles between departments. When that happens, it’s important for you to get to the bottom of it before it escalates. This is not something that gets better with time or ignoring it. It will only fester and show itself at an inopportune time.

So, how do you build bridges? Build rapport before the conflict. Build trust over time with those from other departments that you don’t naturally or day-to-day work with. Take the initiative to say hi in a meeting. Offer suggestions when appropriate even if it’s not your area. Show that you are concerned about the whole and not just your part. Create as much loyalty and goodwill as you can. It’s not perfect but it beats the alternative.

#Beingaleader means you need to build bridges. Make them strong.