Relationships are the differentiator.

Daymond John, in Success Magazine’s “The Tech Issue”, shares that “Technology isn’t the strategy. Relationships are. And Tech is just the amplifier” and we couldn’t agree more.

John interviewed Virgil Miller, President of Aflac Incorporated and Aflac U.S., and feels Miller stands apart from other leaders. Why? It’s Miller’s belief that outcomes are dependent on clarity, trust and follow-through, all which are enhanced with healthy relationships.

Miller’s perspective is that relationships:

• Are built on trust and open communication
• They include empathy and an understanding of others’ feelings and experiences
• Require time to create and maintain
• Prioritize mutual respect and support
• Are vested in growth and well-being and a willingness to learn from one another

Regardless of your line of work, be it in the IT world, medical profession, financial services, a non-profit organization, etc, there’s the need to satisfy our internal and external clients and patients and it starts with establishing relationships.

Miller created what he called “The Formula” and believes that each role needs to assess:

People: The ability to form strong relationships with colleagues and superiors

Process: What success looks like in each role

Performance: How to be a leader that inspires and motivates team members

It’s easy to get caught up in maintaining technical skill sets, but it’s essential to remember the human element. We can and certainly should take pride in our technical abilities and keep them sharp, but our success is dependent on how we connect with others.