It’s generally low-cost to complain about the quality or quantity of help you’re getting from other parts of your organization… and practically cost-free to whine about groups like HR, IT, Procurement, Facilities, Finance, and Legal.
Smart leaders cultivate relationships with people in these groups who are (1) critical to their teams’ success, and (2) can share insights about the priorities and perspectives of these groups.
Here’s the test: When you have a serious need, is there someone who will happily take your call and prioritize your request above the noise in their inbox?
Evaluate your network. Make amends if necessary. Create new connections where you have gaps.
