Creating strong relationships: Are you a Linker or a Non-linker?

“A Linker thinks: If I share my information and connect with others, our skills and knowledge will grow.”

“A Non-linker thinks: If I share my information, someone may take advantage, or take credit for what I have done.”

Are you a person who naturally creates bridges between others or fills gaps of information between not-so-obvious subject areas? Do you seek to enable communication between people and groups? Do you mitigate conflict and misunderstanding? Linkers know that the stronger their social network the more they will feel connected, invested and supported in creating higher level solutions.

It’s usually possible to trace the success of most initiatives back to the efforts of such natural liaisons. They communicate across discipline boundaries, forge relationships, share understandings, and go beyond the roles and responsibilities of their job descriptions. They energize others through seeking to create. By spanning the cultural divides between different functional groups, natural liaisons move organizations from the status quo to a better, more communicative and collaborative state.

This week, try to observe the Linkers and Non-linkers in your group. Which do you want to be?