4 Types Of People To Befriend At Work
Relationship capital is a career differentiator, according to Joy Fitzgerald — coach, best-selling author, and corporate leader who currently serves as SVP, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at UnitedHealth Group.
“Focusing only on performance will keep you on the job, but you most likely won’t get the career you desire without relationships,” says Fitzgerald. “Be in the company of excellent and inspiring people. Having a friend or mentor who inspires you to work harder is crucial. Ensure you are in the company of people who are driven to succeed and drive you to achieve. Encircle yourself with successful individuals by seeking them out. Never undervalue the significance of achievement in your immediate surroundings. Remember that you need to be among individuals who inspire you to achieve your goals. Positive people will help you learn how to become more optimistic and work toward your objectives.”
This topic is explored in the forthcoming book, “Finding Authentic Rhythm: How to Win on Your Terms in Corporate America” (March 2023).
Fitzgerald is available for interviews, expert commentary, and contributed articles on how wining with relationship capital and visibility requires that you focus on four types of people:
1. Key Stakeholders
“These are individuals that will help you stay relevant. They may or may not hold senior-level roles, but they are very influential with key decision-makers. Their opinions matter. These individuals need to be talking about you in the rooms you don’t have access to for all the right reasons. In some organizations, it might be the executive assistant of your function’s leader. It could be a close colleague or person on their staff. These individuals know the answers to the questions that can help you. They know the unwritten rules of success and may have even written the sheet music in your company.”
2. Key Decision-Makers
“These are individuals that will make the decisions on who gets hired, promoted, fired, laid off, and given new work assignments. They are the individuals with the formal and informal power in your organizations. These individuals should know who you are and what you can deliver. They also need to like you enough to not stand in your way for new career opportunities.”
3. Colleagues
“These are your team members or people that report to you. These are the people you spend the most time with, and they can help you get exceptional work done. These are also the people you should engage with often and with whom you should partner.”
4. Peers
“This is a group many oftentimes neglect building relationships with because you see them as your competition. Develop effective and productive relationships with your peers. You need to have visibility into what they are thinking and feeling. They have the ear of your leader, and it is important to understand what they are sharing about you. One day, they too could become your leader. You can learn valuable information from them.”
About Joy Fitzgerald
Joy Fitzgerald (aka Speaking Joy) is an author, speaker, and life coach who has dedicated her life to motivating and igniting joy into every aspect of a person’s life. Her power is in her courageous voice and desire to develop and grow people. She is known as a highly sought-after transformational leader and executive coach, who helps take people from where they are to where they aspire to be.
As a dynamic speaker and strategic thought partner, Fitzgerald has presented keynote speeches and workshops in more than 20 countries and 5 continents. She has more than 25 years of leadership experience working across business sectors, for both profit and nonprofit organizations in various industries. She has served on boards for several organizations and was named by Diversity Journal as a “Woman Worth Watching,” by Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association as a “Rising Star,” and by Black Enterprise as a Top Executive in Corporate Diversity.
A global leader in talent management, as well as diversity and inclusion, Fitzgerald has dedicated her career to improving the lives of individuals, one person at a time. She has a rare ability to tackle very difficult subjects and speak truth to power without stirring negative emotions, and is skillful and experienced in developing business solutions that address people challenges to create a more diverse and inclusive work environment. She seeks to create a world in which all people are treated with dignity and respect, and works tirelessly to champion inclusion by creating safe spaces for brave conversations on topics of injustice and inequities. Fitzgerald currently serves as the SVP, Chief DE&I Officer for a major healthcare group, where she partners with Human Resources and business leaders to support the company’s objective to attract and develop talent, build future leaders at all levels and improve diversity and inclusion across the company. She earned a master’s degree in strategic leadership and a bachelor’s degree in organizational development from the University of Memphis in Memphis, TN.
Fitzgerald is a devoted mother and wife. She is married to her college sweetheart, Tyron and has two wonderful young adult children, Taylor and Tyron Jr.
