Imagine walking into an organization and thinking that everyone seemed connected. If you could cast a ball of yarn throughout all the departments, each stakeholder would be holding on to a string of the yarn and explaining how their department depends on another department to make their job a success. This interdependence with each other is what happens in most of our work environments. We just never take the time to tell others how much we appreciate and need their support and expertise.

Helping leaders to figure out ways to connect their team members is at the hub of a successfully run company. Gone are the days when we can hibernate in silos and just cheer for our own group. Today’s leaders must foster a climate of trust, believing that each person adds value and talent to the team. Creating avenues for job growth and personal development is what great leaders can do so gracefully. If our team members blossom, we will soar too. But sometimes we are too busy with the day to day routines that we don’t spend enough time cultivating each other.

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it is amazing what they can accomplish.” Sam Walton believed that spending the time to mentor our teams is critical to high performance. It is up to our leaders to help us connect with one another and create trust and transparency within our organizations. We depend on each other to get our jobs done well and therefore need to express our gratitude for each person’s contribution.

Are you that leader or team member that sees value in others and can spark enthusiasm to achieve? Can you lead your team by modeling transparency and honesty? Can you help others connect in a meaningful way?