Think about all the things you have been taught to do in your life. Not the stuff you just picked up through casual observation, but those skills you were actually taught. It started with walking, then talking, then reading and writing, and eventually made it up to solving algebra problems, playing a sport or instrument, and driving a car. All things incredibly useful that you could have never mastered on your own without the instruction, practice, and support that came along with them.

So of all the skills that are important to us as human beings, is there any one more essential to our survival and our success than our ability to build strong relationships with others? Of course not. And yet, when were we taught how to do that? When did we receive the formal instruction, practice and support we need to build the loyal bonds with those who will help us not only feed our families, but accomplish our goals, and live out our dreams? The fact is, we never did. Some of us picked it up by watching others or through trial and error. But unfortunately, most of us have no idea how to do it effectively.

There is a process to building and maintaining loyalty. It begins by establishing a strategy for those relationships that are most critical to you and your organization’s success. It requires fostering a culture within the organization that understands and embraces the value of strong, personal relationships. It entails teaching, practicing and supporting a set of fundamental relationship skills to every person within the organization. And finally, it involves the development of tools and systems that support those relationship-building skills.