A fifth common relationship-building mistake is not being authentic or transparent with others. Authenticity is the quality of being genuine, honest, and consistent with your values, beliefs, and actions. Transparency is the quality of being open, honest, and accountable for your decisions, actions, and outcomes. If you are not authentic or transparent, you may create distrust, suspicion, or resentment. To avoid this mistake, you need to cultivate authenticity and transparency, which involve being yourself, telling the truth, admitting mistakes, and sharing information. Authenticity and transparency can help you build trust, credibility, and respect with others.
Relationship-building is a vital skill for servant leaders, who seek to serve others and create positive change. By avoiding these common mistakes and developing empathy as a servant leader, you can enhance your relationships, improve your communication, and increase your influence and impact.