Relationships Matter

Relationships Matter. I heard it again just as I have been hearing it time and time again over the last year. This time it came from a rather unusual and unexpected source; Mr. Robert Gates, Nominee for Defense Secretary.

I was watching the confirmation hearings on C-Span this morning while studying for my Enterprise Resource Planning Final, an odd pairing I know but such is the life of an MBA.

As I was reviewing how an ERP system can help with ABC (Activity Based Costing), I heard Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama ask Dr. Gates what he had learned in his professional life that would help him in his new job as Secretary of Defense. Loving to hear that type of question I tuned in a little closer.

What Dr. Gates said was so familiar given what I have been increasingly hearing from executives visiting our program over the last year. Almost to a person all of these very diverse, experienced and successful people have said that it is the personal connections they have with people that matter when it comes to getting things done. Imagine my surprise when Dr. Gates said exactly the same thing in his reply to Senator Sessions.

To paraphrase Dr. Gates , he said that you can throw out the organizational chart when thinking about how to get things done because it is the personal relationships which matter more than anything else. To be sure what you do matters in this world but it's not the only thing that matters. As human beings we are uncomfortable with the unknown regardless of its accomplishments. This it seems is where relationships come in.

Relationships allow individuals to get comfortable with each other because they become "known" to each other. When people have strong relationships based on trust and respect they are freed to get things done. So if you want to get things done in your organization focus more on building bridges to other people and less on analyzing data. It's not that the analysis isn't necessary, it certainly is, it's just not sufficient.

If you want to get things done do your analysis and then get out and talk with people about everything; their families, life, beliefs and then your analysis. Build relationships day-in and day-out and you will have a strong network of support in personal and professional situations, in good times and in bad. If you don't you will be on your own...a depressing and lonely thought in a world so big.