Three C’s
I put a lot of emphasis on creating strong relationships. It's the foundation for my leadership philosophy. It's also directly tied to one of my personal values.
But how does one go about doing that? I sometimes get questions on how to do this, especially in professional environments.
Today, I'm going to share the three C's framework popularized by Jesse Itzler. I particularly like this as an entry point for strengthening both new and existing relationships.
Authentic
Before we get to the "three C's" we should address authenticity.
If you are going to practice any of this, it's important that you do so authentically. Not because you want something in return or want to gain favor with someone. The entire point of this exercise is simply about recognizing and connecting with the humanity in others.
Compliment
Reach out to someone in your network and compliment them on something that has personal meaning to you.
The fact that it has personal meaning to you is key. Your compliment will naturally be more authentic and sincere when it's tied to your own values. That shared value also serves as a point of connection for the relationship going forward.
Congratulate
It's so easy to get caught-up in our own lives that we don't take a lot of time to celebrate others. Things like promotions or closing large deals are common examples but I recommend going further.
Consider congratulating your network on personal achievements or even the achievements of their spouse and children. Do you have a colleague who just ran a big race? Or maybe their daughter is graduating? Those are perfect opportunities for congratulations.
Console
It's great to celebrate others, but it's also important to be there for the low points we all experience. Showing-up for someone who is grieving is a big deal. That seems like a given, but I'll tell you that not everyone does it.
This also doesn't have to be reserved solely for grief. Reaching out to someone you know who is having particularly hard or stressful time is also really powerful. You're not solving or fixing anything here, you're just acknowledging a difficult situation.
This Week's Action Items:
Over the next week…
Check to make sure that your attempts to connect with others are authentic.
Compliment someone in your network on a shared value.
Identify an upcoming opportunity to congratulate someone and mark a reminder to do that.
Chances are you know someone who is going through a difficult or stressful time. Reach out simply to check-in on them.
