By Marilyn Sherman, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker and Author of Front-Row Success
Have you ever needed help and discovered that the right relationship made all the difference? Sometimes, one connection can open a door, solve a problem, create an opportunity, or completely change the outcome of a difficult situation.
I was reminded of that this week when I had a horrible toothache that resulted in a root canal. Now, let me tell you, a root canal was definitely NOT on my bucket list!
Fortunately, a dear friend had a relationship with a wonderful dentist and helped me secure an appointment the very next morning. The dentist was able to take care of me that same day, and I couldn’t have been more grateful.
As I sat in that dental chair, I started thinking about something I write about in my new book, Front-Row Success: How to Live and Lead from the Best Seat in the House.
The people you have in your front-row can make all the difference in the world.
And that lesson applies to much more than getting an emergency dental appointment. It applies to your career, your relationships, your leadership effectiveness, and the culture you create in your workplace.
Why Are Strong Relationships Important for Success?
Strong relationships provide encouragement, support, access to opportunities, and a foundation of trust. In the workplace, positive relationships help leaders communicate more effectively, strengthen collaboration, and create environments where employees feel valued.
Think about the people who have made a difference in your life. Maybe it was a mentor who helped you develop your confidence, a colleague who recommended you for an opportunity, or a friend who introduced you to someone who changed the direction of your career.
Most of us can identify people who have helped us succeed. But here’s an important question: Are we equally intentional about being that person for someone else?
That’s where the philosophy of Front-Row Success becomes especially meaningful.
What Does It Mean to Live and Lead from the Front-Row?
In my keynote presentations to business leaders, associations, and corporate teams, I teach that life and leadership are a lot like attending a concert. You can sit in the balcony, where you’re disconnected and disengaged. You can settle for general admission, where you’re comfortable but not necessarily growing. Or you can choose the front-row, where you’re fully engaged, energized, and committed to performing at your best.
The front-row isn’t a physical location. It’s a mindset and a commitment to living and leading with purpose.
And here’s something I’ve learned from years of working with leaders and teams across the country: You don’t get to the front-row all by yourself.
The people you surround yourself with influence your attitude, your confidence, your energy, and your ability to navigate challenges. That’s why building strong relationships isn’t just a networking strategy. It’s an important part of personal and professional success.
Here are three practical ways to strengthen your front-row relationships.
- Be Intentional About Who’s in Your Front-Row
One of the most important things you can do for your personal and professional development is take inventory of the people who influence your life.
Who genuinely wants to see you succeed? Who encourages you to stretch beyond your comfort zone? Who challenges you to grow, tells you the truth when you need to hear it, and celebrates your accomplishments without feeling threatened?
Those are the people you want in your front-row.
Front-Row Action Step: Identify three people who have positively influenced your life or career. Consider how you can strengthen those relationships and express your appreciation for their support.
- Build Relationships Before You Need Them
Here’s a leadership lesson that deserves more attention: The best time to build a relationship is BEFORE you need something.
Unfortunately, too many people wait until they’re facing a crisis, looking for a new opportunity, or dealing with a challenge before reaching out to others.
Effective leaders understand that trust isn’t built overnight. It’s developed through consistent communication, genuine interest, reliability, and a willingness to support others.
Think about the difference this makes in the workplace. When leaders regularly connect with their employees, recognize contributions, listen to concerns, and demonstrate that people matter, they build the foundation for a stronger organizational culture.
Employees who feel respected and supported are better positioned to collaborate, contribute ideas, and remain engaged in their work.
On the other hand, when leaders only communicate with employees when something goes wrong, relationships can become transactional rather than meaningful.
Building a positive workplace culture doesn’t require a complicated initiative. It starts with everyday leadership behaviors that communicate one powerful message: You matter, and your contribution makes a difference.
Front-Row Action Step: Reach out to someone on your team this week without needing anything from them. Ask how they’re doing, acknowledge something they’ve accomplished, or simply say, “What can I do to help you succeed?”
That small investment in a relationship can have a lasting impact.
- Become an Usher for Someone Else
This is my favorite part of the Front-Row philosophy.
Don’t just focus on who’s sitting in YOUR front-row. Ask yourself whose front-row YOU are sitting in.
Are you someone who encourages others to grow? Do you make introductions that create opportunities? Do you share information, recognize accomplishments, and help people develop their confidence?
I call this being an usher.
An usher helps someone find a better seat. And in life and leadership, being an usher means using your influence, experience, and relationships to help other people succeed.
Imagine what would happen if more organizations embraced that philosophy.
Instead of competing for recognition, employees would look for opportunities to recognize each other. Instead of withholding information, teams would willingly share knowledge. Instead of saying, “That’s not my job,” people would ask, “How can I help?”
That’s how you begin creating a Front-Row Culture, where collaboration replaces unnecessary competition, employees feel valued, and leaders actively invest in the success of their people.
A strong workplace culture isn’t created by a motivational poster on the wall or a mission statement nobody remembers. It’s built through the behaviors people demonstrate every day.
Front-Row Action Step: Find one opportunity this week to be an usher for someone else. Make an introduction, recommend a colleague, share an opportunity, offer encouragement, or help someone recognize potential they may not see in themselves.
Remember, being an usher doesn’t require a leadership title. It requires a willingness to make a difference.
How Do Strong Relationships Improve Leadership and Workplace Culture?
Strong professional relationships help create the trust and communication necessary for effective teamwork. When leaders invest in relationships, employees are more likely to feel heard, supported, and connected to the organization’s mission.
For organizations looking to improve employee engagement, morale, collaboration, and performance, relationship-building should be an ongoing leadership priority.
Here are three important principles to remember:
- Trust grows through consistency. Strong relationships develop when leaders follow through, communicate openly, and demonstrate genuine care.
- Recognition strengthens engagement. People want to know their contributions matter and that their efforts are appreciated.
- Collaboration creates opportunities. When team members actively support one another, everyone has a greater opportunity to succeed.
These principles are at the heart of my Front-Row Success keynote presentations, where I challenge leaders and employees to move beyond simply showing up and become fully engaged in their work, their relationships, and their potential.
Your Front-Row Challenge: Who Can You Help This Week?
My unexpected dental adventure reminded me how valuable it is to have people in your life who will show up when you need them.
I’m incredibly grateful for the friend who helped me connect with a wonderful dentist and for the care I received.
But I also walked away with a reminder that applies to every one of us.
It’s wonderful to have people in your corner who can help you succeed. It’s even more meaningful when you become that person for someone else.
So here’s your Front-Row Challenge for this week.
First, identify someone who has made a difference in your life or career. Maybe they gave you a chance, opened a door, shared valuable advice, or encouraged you when you needed it most. Reach out and thank them. Don’t assume they already know how much you appreciate them.
Second, find an opportunity to help someone else move closer to their front-row. Make a connection, share an opportunity, acknowledge a contribution, or offer a word of encouragement.
You never know how much one small gesture could impact someone’s confidence, career, or life.
Be intentional about who’s in your front-row, but be even more intentional about whose front-row you’re in.
Because the best seat in the house isn’t necessarily the one you’re sitting in. It’s the one you help someone else find!
That’s how you live and lead from the best seat in the house.
Happy Front-Row Friday!
Watch This Week’s Front-Row Friday
Want to hear the story behind my unexpected root canal and discover three ways to build stronger relationships in your life and career?
Bring Front-Row Success to Your Organization
Marilyn Sherman is a Hall of Fame motivational keynote speaker and author who helps organizations reignite employee engagement, strengthen leadership, improve workplace culture, and inspire teams to perform at their best.
Her signature keynote, Front-Row Success: How Top Performers Never Settle for Balcony Seats, delivers practical strategies to help leaders and employees take greater ownership of their attitudes, actions, relationships, and results.
Learn more about bringing Marilyn to your next conference, leadership meeting, or corporate event at FrontRowSuccess.com.
Get Marilyn’s new book: Front-Row Success: How to Live and Lead from the Best Seat in the House.
