Within our complex economy, there is a movement afoot. It is growing in popularity. Books and articles are written on the topic with increasing speed, and research is continually emerging to support the effort. The movement comes from the three most important words to a leader:  “Develop, Develop, Develop.” Members of the business community need to pay attention to this movement because their competition certainly is!

As our economy is increasingly more service oriented, a company’s competitive advantage is now determined by their social capital—their leaders. It is the leader’s capacity to build relationships and lead others that will determine a company’s success. Thus, the “Develop, Develop, Develop” movement seeks to improve the quality of others’ emotional competence and ability to learn.

Personal coaching is a key component in this movement, as it assumes that each person has potential to enhance their strengths and overcome their challenges. Leaders who engage in one-on-one coaching can focus their development goals and more easily translate them into business and people results!  Maximizing a leader’s positive impact is a goal that nearly all companies want as they strive to become “great.”

Daniel Goleman, author of Working with Emotional Intelligence, states, “two out of three competencies listed for the average job are emotional competencies. Compared with IQ and expertise, emotional competence matters twice as much. This is true across all categories of jobs, and in all kinds of organizations.  Emotional competencies are found to be twice as important in contributing to excellence as pure intellect and expertise.”

Relationship skills, especially when they are combined with technical competence and talent, are the greatest predictor of future success for a leader. So, how is a culture created that focuses on development? How can leaders build strong relationships? The following three steps offer a beginning.  These steps will not only improve your emotional competency, but will positively influence others in your office, your company, and with your clients.

Reveal Your Goals:

We all know that example is the greatest teacher, so show others how much you are interested in developing your own communication and relationship skills. Be open! Share your goals and it will influence others to develop as well!

Develop, Develop, Develop is what leaders need to achieve business and people results. That attitude not only attracts the right kind leaders, but it keeps the right kind of leaders. Join the movement, because I bet your leaders already have!