It’s shocking. I’m amazed at the number of leaders who don’t meet regularly with the very people who help them to get work done. I mean the real, formal, sit down and talk type of meetings that allow the employee, peer, or manager to say whats on their mind. To discuss priorities. To give feedback. To assess the situation.

Sure, you’re busy. Sure, you have lots of deadlines and stuff to do. But wouldn’t all that “stuff to do” be easier if you engaged the people in your network to assist? It seems counter-intuitive to neglect the relationships of the very individuals who can help (or harm) your cause.

I dare you to open up your own calendar and take a look at the last month. Count up how many times you’ve met with:

- your direct reports
- your peers
- people in your other relationship networks (customers,clients, suppliers, and yes, even friends)

What are you missing by not being intentional about those relationships?

Get moving, and schedule some of those important and neglected relationships!