Fostering Relationships

In New York City it’s difficult to walk more than a block without a Starbuck’s encounter. There is one Starbuck’s that has become a destination. Many devout coffee drinkers will pass several just to get to this one. It happens to be on Park Avenue in the first floor headquarters of JP Morgan Chase. The reason people come has nothing to do with the coffee, but everything to do with a barista known as Happy Ivy. Ivy has a wonderful, bubbly personality and always has a warm smile. She is amazing at fostering relationships.

While her personality has certainly helped her create a following, it is her dedication to making her customers feel special that creates her success: Ivy comes in every morning two hours prior to the store’s opening. She sets up all the cups for her regular customers with their name and their coffee order. The moment she sees the customer she prepares their order. By the time they reach the front of the line to pay, she hands them their coffee. Anyone who has been to Starbucks knows that you typically wait on two lines: the first to order and to pay, and the second to pick up your drink. Ivy’s regulars just wait on one. A friend of mine who is a very senior person at Chase, and one of Ivy’s regulars, decided Ivy would be a good fit for his business. He hired her to work as a personal banker for the Chase branch in the company’s headquarters. She is now in a position to live a better lifestyle and has become a tremendous asset to the bank.

Are you the type of person that brightens the day of other people when they encounter you? Do you stand out in your job? No matter what you do, there are always ways to enhance your performance by building stronger relationships and by enhancing your preparation.

First, think about how you can deepen relationships with people that can make a difference in your life? Once you develop these relationships, what can you do to leverage them? Keep in mind, people that like you, are usually willing to help you.

The more I work with successful people, the more I realize that while being smart certainly helps, and working long hours can make a difference, in the end, those that have the commitment to build meaningful relationships, and the discipline to maintain productive habits that prepare them for their daily tasks, rise to the top of their game.

Can you get better at fostering relationships? What about becoming more efficient and providing better services to those around you? Think about what you can do to better prepare for your responsibilities. Create habits around performing those tasks.

Drop me a note at [email protected] and let me now how it works out.