Investing in the Framework

Assuming we’ve taken the time to establish a relational foundation, the most effective way we can integrate humility into the structure is by continuously investing in the framework. In most cases, the idea of investments ties to finances. For a long-lasting framework that truly leverages leadership growth, our investments should be in nurturing each professional relationship we have as well as the new ones we create.

We can all come up with a list of the people in our lives who rarely pop onto our radar without having something very specific they need from us. Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a business associate, regardless of how much we genuinely care for the individual, there’s little strength for anyone to draw from that kind of relationship. It may fill a need in the moment but even that will have a diminishing return. I’ve never seen someone offer their best, indefinitely, to a person who only makes time for them when there’s an immediate need.

In chapter twelve of What’s KILLING Your Profitability?, titled “Answering the Cry for Help”, I shared one of the most valuable lessons I learned from Terry while he was the management sponsor for our behavior-based safety process. If you’re not familiar with the entire story behind it, get the book. For our purposes here, the overarching idea is what applies: Control what you can control.

There’s very little I can do to build a stronger connection with someone who has no interest in practicing the art of responsiveness - especially someone who consistently makes it abundantly clear that I don’t fit into their schedule until they have a pressing need that only I can fill. That’s their choice, not mine. What I can control, though, is the value I place on those I interact with, be that routinely or just occasionally. Whether it’s someone mentoring me, an individual I have the privilege of providing mentorship to, or a business associate I’m building a relationship with, I have complete control over how I nurture the structure of our relational framework. 

My consistent investment sustains the framework’s effectiveness. When I’m willing to show value by making those ongoing investments into each relationship, the ones that bear the most fruit will be abundantly clear. Those will be the ones where we’ll experience real influence, and we’ll look at how that influence strengthens the overall framework next. For now, think about how (and where) you can dedicate time in nurturing your relational strategy. While we may not need to disconnect completely, there will be some relationships that don’t justify significant investments - especially when the other party has shown time and again that they don’t see mutual value. Control what you can control and invest where the return goes both ways.