Build relationships by impacting others

- Educator Booker T. Washington said, "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else." This is the attitude you need to adopt as you work to build relationships. There's a well-known TED talk by author Drew Dudley called "Everyday Leadership," commonly referred to as lollipop moments. Now, you should check out his talk to learn the origin of that name, but the crux of his story is the ability every single one of us has to create small but powerful moments of impact for others. Think about three people in your career who've had the most positive impact on you. What stands out about them? I'd be willing to bet they probably made you feel like you are important, you're talented, and you are resilient, which is 100% true. It's also likely that your connection to those people is unshakeable. No matter how much time has passed since you last spoke, if they reached out to you today, you'll stop at nothing to help them. So let's talk about how you can create similar moments of impact and build unshakeable loyalty within your network. Start by sharing your story. What humanizes you and impacts others is telling your truth. People like to be around individuals who help them feel like they belong. Recently, part of a speech I gave went viral with almost 91 million views. My team and I realized immediately it was because I was vulnerable, talking about a family moment that resonated with people. That's the power of story. Remember, facts tell, but story sell. Keep in mind, not share too much. The point of sharing your story isn't to blurt out every thought, emotion, or childhood experience you can think of. The point is to connect to a piece of someone else's story. Share just enough to connect, but not so much that it's straining to be around you. Next, join a group that's working on a project you believe in. When you say yes to a passion project, you'll probably end up building relationships with others who also feel connected to that cause. Create human moments with every team member by regularly asking, how are you and how can I help? Look at the team holistically. Share what you appreciate about the team and each team member. Sometimes you have to give away what you want to receive yourself, and if you want to go a step further, consider starting a mentorship or leadership program with people you've met through the project. You never know what kind of network you can build through volunteering together, but be purposeful here. It can be tempting to say yes to every meaningful opportunity that you dream up or that comes your way. Instead, channel your energy in a direction that will impact others and contribute to your growth. Finally, do something for someone who can't do anything for you. You should always give someone else a hand up in life and in their career, even if nothing comes of it, you'll feel better for having helped someone else. At the very least, you'll have one more champion for your brand. The next time you are at work, look for opportunities to share part of your story with someone else. As you push your relationships beyond a surface level connection, you'll build connections that will stand the test of time.