How do you build relationships as a leader? It’s all about being your true self.

“Being relatable as a leader doesn’t mean being everyone’s best friend. It doesn’t mean saying or doing things that effectively bribe others into liking you,” writes John Maxwell for his blog. “Being relatable means being yourself; living an authentic, consistent life with the people you lead. If you want better relationships, you must be relatable.”

Maxwell shares four ways to be relatable as a leader:

• Share your values. Knowing what ideals you live by, be it faith, family or integrity, show others how you see the world. “When you know what you stand for, what you believe, and how you see the world, you’re in the best position to live authentically with your people because you know who you are,” he writes.
• Know your worth.  Your skills and strengths are a part of who you are and are important to your self-worth. “When you know your individual value you can live at ease with others because you’re better prepared to add value from your place of strength,” he writes.
• See the value in others. “Every person you encounter has intrinsic value, which means they should be appreciated for who they are,” writes Maxwell. Even if you find it difficult, it’s important to apply this belief to everyone you work with. “If you’ll appreciate people and their impact on your life, you’ll discover that they relate to you a lot better.”
• Add value to others. When you help others, are kind and encouraging to your colleagues, you show that you can add value to others. “When people can see that you genuinely like people, they will believe that you might genuinely like them, too,” explains Maxwell.