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Businesses live and die based who you know—and how well you connect with those people. Strong relationships can get you in front of a key investor or snag you lower prices in negotiations. And it’s nearly impossible to run a thriving business if no one likes or trusts you.
Building relationships in a professional context is a critical maneuver. Each of these books offers unique wisdom for doing so.
1. Winning Words, Winning Life: Fast Track to Life Success
Running a business can have frustrating and discouraging moments—as Victoria Draper knows all too well. The words we use shape how we respond to challenges and disappointments, playing a major part in whether businesses persevere or fail. This quick read not only inspired me to express myself in more positive ways, but also provides concrete action steps that helped me do that.
2. The Non-Obvious Guide to Emotional Intelligence
You’ve probably heard a lot about the importance of emotional intelligence (or EQ—short for “emotional quotient”) in recent years. Kerry Goyette makes EQ easy to understand and coaches you on myriad ways to use it. For me, learning how to stay calm while making tough decisions and adapting to the constant changes in startup life were vital steps toward success. This book can help you fast-track those skills.
3. Meaningful Alignment: Mastering Emotionally Intelligent Interactions at Work and in Life
Another one on emotional intelligence (it’s important!): Susan Steinbrecher and Robert Schaefer focus specifically on EQ in the workplace. Relationships are shaped by each interaction, and at work you tend to interact with the same people every day. I know the relationships I have with both my immediate team and others in the office are critical to my success and happiness. This book is filled with priceless advice for developing healthy habits in those daily interactions.
This book is mainly geared toward women—maybe because women tend to be less afraid to say they want deeper, more meaningful relationships. I certainly discovered—and benefited from—the wisdom in the pages of Lori Harder’s book. To succeed in business and life, both men and women need to move beyond surface-level acquaintances and develop strong connections.
5. The Friendship Formula: How to Say Goodbye to Loneliness and Discover Deeper Connection
I know firsthand how lonely it can be as the leader. You need friends who will support and encourage you, especially when things are looking bleak. Through Kyler Shumway’s personal stories, you can learn more about how to build friendships and the complex psychological concepts at play in these relationships. I especially recommend this book if you’re trying to run a business without a particularly strong personal support system.
6. Connected Strategy: Building Continuous Customer Relationships for Competitive Advantage
Your relationships with customers are, of course, vital to your business’ success. Nicolaj Siggelkow and Christian Terwiesch’s how-to manual teaches you how to take random, unpredictable interactions with customers and turn them into actual, long-term relationships. Not only does their approach yield better customer service, but it will increase your operational efficiency—talk about a win-win! The concept of a connected strategy is one every business owner should study, and it’s certainly one I plan to apply to all my future endeavors.
Never have I seen a better—or more hands-on—guide to navigating the full spectrum of relationships and achieving peace and harmony at home and at work. Over the years, I’ve managed teams made up of individuals with a variety of opposing views, and in today’s polarized political climate, things can get heated fast. Donald Altman offers strategies for building teams that are united and effective in the workplace, even when people disagree (sometimes vehemently!) on hot topics.
