Step 1: Take an inventory of the key interpersonal connections that make up the network of your team.
Step 2: Find a piece of paper and a writing utensil and draw a circle representing each person. Arrange those circles in a larger circle so that connection lines can be drawn from every teammate to every other teammate.
Step 3: Increase the boldness of the line connecting the strongest relationships while leaving the weakest connections with the faintest lines.
Step 4: Identify a handful of actions you are committed to taking that will advance the growth of the strong liaisons and repair the causes of the weaker affiliations. Create a timeline for each action.
Step 5: Take note of the multiple triangles in your team connection graphic. Determine who will be impacted by any changes that will ensue as you follow through with your action plan. The ripple-effect touches everyone.
Relationships never operate in isolation. They constantly evolve according to the changing environment of the team’s ecosystem. No one is unaffected. While seeing the growth that your actions generate with a targeted person is satisfying, experiencing the enhancement as a team feeds everyone from the inside out. The decision to improve or repair a connection is a gift to the entire team. So go ahead and get started. Even single actions have far-reaching effects.
