Bill George, Former CEO and Chairman of Medtronic

Learn why networking is a prerequisite for Authentic leadership!

Great networkers are not born, they are created. And it need not be a complex process. Many people think that networking is something that you do, rather than a way that you live. It is quite the opposite. Networking is a life skill that can be learned over time, but it must be mastered by creating simple systems that enable you to connect with other key players.

And not surprisingly, great networkers make great leaders because they utilize and expand their circle of influence onto others. Day in and day out, they gain momentum within their contacts and render useful service to create reconance. The process sounds so simple, yet it is an all too overlooked skill. The great networkers are great because they have uncompromising character. They understand that people, at a very humanistic level, deserve to be treated with respect and integrity.

And what makes a great leader? There are a great number of definitions out there. Personally, I find value in what Bill George, former CEO and Chairman of Medtronic says about it – “I can summarize leadership in a single word: authenticity.” And Its true! Authenticity is a forerunner to all the other great traits that build character. Authentic Leaders, as George describes, ”are guided by qualities of the heart, by passion and compassion, as they are by qualities of the mind and who lead with purpose, meaning and values.”[1]

When it all comes down to it, true networking is a prerequisite to authentic leadership and both are concerned in building enduring, meaningful relationships with people.