Tag: Building Relationships

Got Followers? Got Mentors? Out of This World Leaders Need Both!

Boiled down to its most fundamental element, leadership requires followers. Admittedly, there are a few charismatic leaders, who can naturally draw followers. For most of us, though, we have to build relationships with others. Or, like John Maxwell says, “He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk.”

Fortunately, the Bible has something to say about relationships. In fact, weeks 26 & 27 of the NIV Leadership Bible are all about “Interpersonal Relationships.” Starting in Genesis, God created people to live in community when he stated, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (2:18). Throughout the Bible, the most highly acclaimed leaders built relationships that helped their followers grow.

Click here to learn from some of these Biblical leaders.

The Southwest Airlines Way

SW Airlines Mission

This month, Southwest Airlines celebrates its 43rd anniversary. When Southwest first took to the skies, there was nothing like it; flying was for the rich and elite. Fares were high, and service was low. But Southwest had a different vision—offering shorthaul, high-frequency service that launched the low-fare revolution and ultimately carried more passengers within the domestic U.S. than any other airline.

In 2007, as I was considering rotation development opportunities, I wanted to find a way to work for Southwest Airlines in Dallas. Unfortunately, I could never work out the logistics of a 6-month assignment in Washington, D.C. followed by 6 months in Dallas, Texas. So, I chose to work at the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation in addition to my time at NASA Headquarters—a rich experience. In November 2007, my wife gave me a book on The Southwest Airlines Way—the closest I could get to working for them! Full of frontline tales of Southwest’s innovative management style, this book explains how Southwest’s relentless focus on high-performance relationships and its people-management practices have been the key to its unparalleled success in the airline industry.

Click here to learn how your organization can learn from Southwest’s management style by creating shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect among management, employees, and suppliers.