“People buy into the leader, then the vision,” leadership expert John Maxwell once said.

Many people believe that if the cause is good enough, people will automatically follow no matter who is leading. But that’s not always how it works — people who take time to get the relationships right are often the ones who inspire us to follow them and their vision.

According to David Irvine, leadership expert and author, the vision is a good start, but you must care about the people involved at least as much as you care about the cause. If you don’t, people will feel used and will eventually shut down, disengage, resist, or quit.

Irvine says it is increasingly clear that if leaders don’t get the relationships right, nothing else matters.

Trucking HR Canada has partnered with Irvine to deliver a three-part webinar series this fall that is tailored to our sector. The goal of these sessions is to deliver practical insights and tools that can be used to create a workplace that has greater resilience, clearer purpose, and foster a sense of belonging.

Here is what he says are three essential components for relationships in leadership:

1. Care

It’s that simple. You can’t fake it. It’s either there or it isn’t. If people know you care, they’ll support you even if you make mistakes. If they know you don’t care, it won’t end well.

You might get compliance as a boss, but it takes a true leader to get commitment. And you won’t get commitment if people don’t genuinely think you care and support them.

2. Listen — with humility

Notice your talk ask/tell ratio with people around you. It’s a good sign when you’re spending at least twice the amount of your time listening than you are talking. People will open up and provide input if you demonstrate your willingness to learn from everyone. Empathic listening will come easier if you sincerely care about the answers to the questions you ask.

3. Authenticity breeds connection

When it comes to leadership, ability matters. But inner qualities matter more. To demonstrate your inner qualities, you need to get comfortable with yourself and get past the gimmicks, fads, and flavors of the month and be real with everyone in your organization.

When you register before Sept. 30 for all three sessions, you receive the early bird price and get access to a bonus session. Find out more/register: here