Without relationships, there is no trust. People do not come to work day after day just to punch a time clock — they come to work for a person or group of people. For them to give it their absolute best, and for us to get the best out of them, they must have relationships with their leader. As your empire grows bigger this becomes harder and harder, so it's continually  more important to give it your focus and attention. There are eight steps to lead in your relationships, showing people that you care, and keeping your top talent.

1. Understand your team’s story
2. Learn what makes people tick
3. Connect on social media
4. Names (and pronunciation) matter
5. Find a common interest
6. Catch them doing something right
7. Be part of their life journey
8. Invest in your people

Building an empire isn’t just about building big businesses — it’s about building big lives. And that means not just your life, but your people’s lives too. So get out there and care for your people.

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media