By Julia Mitchell
The devastation brought from Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma and the volcanic eruptions of Hawaii remind us that trying times often require teamwork.
In each of these cases, and many more, individuals and businesses used their relationships to solve an immediate problem facing their community. Building connections is a fundamental skill of relationship masters and a key to their business success.
Sam McCrary, owner of Houston’s catering and event company, the Mermaid Kitchen, had her business destroyed, but managed to turn her land into a place of refuge. McCrary owns the land of what’s now known as the Rockport Relief Camp. The land hosted dozens of displaced families and now serves mostly as storage for donated items. By connecting with everyone she knew and asking for donations, she raised $5,000, filled a travel trailer with necessities and began serving meals to hundreds of people a day, all within three days of the storm hitting.[1]
Airbnb recruited short-term-rental hosts to help provide shelter to displaced residents impacted by the Kilauea eruptions, offering accommodations free of charge. Airbnb also utilized their relationship with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) to sort out free lodging for relief workers.[2]
Sandee Parke Sytsma, chairman of the Florida Strawberry Festival’s board of directors, had worked as a customer service representative at the Tampa Electric Company. Following the hurricane, the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds transformed its land and building into a staging area for more than 3,000 utility trucks from around the nation. Affiliated power companies sent teams to help restore power to hundreds of thousands of customers in Hillsborough and Polk counties.[3]
Relationship first, then task.
Established networks of professional relationships built on trust allow individuals to excel. While we normally consider these networks in terms of business growth, they also allow for other types of problem-solving. Taking the time to nurture and develop relationships, then work together, leads to increased productivity and effectiveness.
Don’t have your first call to someone be for “an ask.”
No one wants to feel exploited, even for a good cause. Understanding another person and honestly connecting with him or her creates trust. From that place of trust, individuals can effectively work together on business problems and pursue opportunities, while overcoming the challenges facing their communities.
Many business and community leaders want to battle their organization’s problems and opportunities right away. However, their energy and enthusiasm can be even more effective when they take the time to first establish meaningful relationships with both inside and outside stake-holders, then use that trust and connectedness to more efficiently work together.
[1] Sikes, D. (2018, March 7). Rockport Relief Camp fed, housed thousands after Hurricane Harvey.
Caller Times. Retrieved from https://www.caller.com/story/sports/outdoors/2018/03/07/
rockport-tx-hurricane-relief-camp-fed-housed-thousands-after-hurricane-harvey/389347002/
[2] Dible, M. (2018, May 19). Airbnb program recruits housing for volcano victims, relief workers.
West Hawaii Today. Retrieved from http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2018/05/19/hawaii-news/
airbnb-program-recruits-housing-for-volcano-victims-relief-workers/
[3] Williams, B. (2017, September 13). Strawberry Festival Grounds hosting utility trucks, workers from
around the nation. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved from http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/
strawberry-festival-grounds-hosting-utility-trucks-workers-from-around-the/2337288
